New Delhi, Oct 26 (UNI) With the Congress-led INDIA bloc unrelenting on its November 1 rally at Ramlila Maidan, being described as the Opposition’s biggest-ever mobilisation against alleged “vote chori”-the ruling BJP has now planned a counter-campaign on the same day, featuring protests and ‘padyatras’ (foot marches) led by senior leaders.
Sources said top leaders, including union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP president Nitin Nabin and chief ministers of party-ruled states, will participate in the ‘Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy’ campaign to counter the INDIA bloc’s ‘Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao’ rally.
Sources also said there is no set time limit for the campaign in mind, given the ongoing festival season-Diwali followed by key occasions such as Chhath Puja. It can carry on for one month and will proceed as per the leaders’ existing schedule. For example, Shah is expected to hold padyatras in Hyderabad on November 2 and subsequently on November 5 in Karnal.
Foot marches, public meetings and outreach programmes will specifically focus on states headed for Assembly elections-Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand and Goa-to counter opposition and also energise cadres. Senior BJP leaders, including union Ministers J P Nadda and Rajnath Singh and Chief Ministers Yogi Adityanath and Devendra Fadnavis, will lead the campaign to counter what the BJP describes as a “false and misleading narrative” being spread by the opposition.
The INDIA bloc has announced the rally to protest against the Election Commission of India (ECI) over alleged irregularities in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. It is also demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over allegations of “vote chori”.
The BJP has criticised the Congress-led alliance, pointing out that November 1 marks the anniversary of the 1984 anti-Sikh violence. Senior BJP leaders, including Ravi Shankar Prasad, accused Rahul Gandhi of “insensitivity,” arguing that a rally on the date would hurt the sentiments of the Sikh community.
Citing the festival season, trade bodies have urged the INDIA bloc to reschedule the November 1 rally. Urging a postponement until after November 10, they warned that a protest during the peak Diwali and Dhanteras shopping period would disrupt trade worth crores of rupees.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, meanwhile, has said the protest over alleged electoral irregularities and CEC Gyanesh Kumar would continue until Prime Minister Narendra Modi removes the election chief.
