Rahul Gandhi, INDIA bloc, BJP, vote chori, Ramlila Maidan rally, anti-Sikh riots, Gyanesh Kumar, electoral rolls (Img: IANS)
New Delhi: The leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Sunday took a dig at the BJP, thanking the ruling party and its allies for publicising the INDIA bloc’s November 1 rally at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan. The rally is being organised to protest against alleged “vote chori”.
Comgress MP's remarks came a day after the BJP asked the Congress leader to postpone the rally, arguing that the date coincides with the anniversary of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
In a post on X, Rahul appealed to people to join the “Save the Vote, Save the Country” march and mega rally, alleging that voters’ names had been deleted from electoral rolls and rules and laws violated.
"Our votes are being stolen, and we will not tolerate this quietly under any circumstances. Names have been removed from the voter lists. Rules and laws have been broken. And lathis have been used on those asking questions. Now the country will respond," he said.
Rahul called on students, farmers, workers, women, young people and traders to participate in the protest, stressing that the campaign concerned everyone who valued democracy.
"Students, farmers, laborers, women, youth, and traders - anyone who cares about democracy must come. The vote is yours. The fight is also yours," he said.
Taking a dig at the BJP and its allies for drawing attention to the event, Rahul thanked them for helping spread the word about the rally and urged them to continue doing so.
“Heartfelt thanks to BJP and its allies, who are promoting this program with such great enthusiasm and reaching it to more and more people.”
"Just keep up this same zeal and dedication for the next 7 days!" he said.
हमारा वोट चुराया जा रहा है और ये हम किसी हाल में चुपचाप नहीं सहेंगे।
मतदाता सूचियों से नाम काटे गए। नियम-कानून तोड़े गए। और सवाल पूछने वालों पर लाठियां चलीं।
अब जवाब देश देगा।
1 नवंबर - चलो दिल्ली।
वोट बचाओ - देश बचाओ जन मार्च और महारैली।छात्र, किसान, मज़दूर, महिलाएं, नौजवान और व्यापारी - जिस-जिस को लोकतंत्र की फ़िक्र है, वो ज़रूर आए।
वोट आपका है। लड़ाई भी आपकी है।
📍 रामलीला मैदान, नई दिल्ली
PS: BJP और उसके साथियों का दिल से धन्यवाद, जो इस कार्यक्रम का इतना ज़ोर-शोर से प्रचार कर रहे हैं और इसे ज़्यादा से ज़्यादा लोगों तक पहुंचा रहे हैं।
बस अगले 7 दिन भी यही जोश और लगन बनाए रखिए!
#ChaloDilli
#RamlilaMarch— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) October 25, 2026
The BJP has opposed holding the rally on November 1, arguing that the date coincides with the anniversary of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and could hurt the sentiments of the Sikh community.
BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad accused the Congress of being insensitive towards the community and traders.
The rally has also faced objections from Delhi’s Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI), which has urged Rahul to reschedule the event until after November 10. The traders’ body cited the potential impact on business during the festive season, warning that the rally could disrupt trade worth Rs 10,000 crore.
The Federation of LPG Distributors of India (FLDI) has also opposed the proposed gathering.
Separately, INDIA bloc leaders are scheduled to hold a “public impeachment” of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on October 30. A mock Parliament is planned at Delhi’s Hotel Ashok as part of the programme.
The opposition’s broader campaign centres on allegations of “vote chori” and irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
