New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday criticised the Congress-led INDIA bloc's rally at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan, saying that holding the event on November 1 would "rub salt in the wounds" of victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
Referring to the anniversary of the violence, Shah questioned the Congress's decision to organise a major political gathering on a date that holds deep emotional significance for the Sikh community.
Speaking at an event in Chandigarh, the Union Minister said the Congress had been advised against holding its rally on November 1. He argued that the date should have been treated with greater sensitivity, considering the painful memories associated with the 1984 violence.
Shah's remarks came as senior opposition leaders gathered in the national capital for the INDIA bloc's 'Chalo Delhi' rally. Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, along with several other opposition leaders, participated in the gathering.
The 1984 anti-Sikh riots followed the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards on October 31, 1984. Widespread violence against members of the Sikh community was reported across several parts of the country, particularly in Delhi. Thousands of people lost their lives, leaving a lasting impact on the community.
The anniversary continues to remain a sensitive occasion, with survivors and victims' families seeking justice and accountability.
Shah's comments have brought the timing of the opposition rally into the political spotlight, adding another dimension to the ongoing confrontation between the BJP and the Congress.
While the INDIA bloc has organised the gathering around concerns over voting rights and electoral processes, the BJP has questioned the Congress's choice of date, citing the historical significance of November 1 for the Sikh community.
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