Kharge Says Modi Must Go to Save Democracy at Delhi Rally

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP-led government at the INDIA Bloc‘s ‘Chalo Dilli’ rally at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi on Sunday, November 1. Kharge alleged that the ruling party was undermining democratic institutions, weakening the Constitution and attempting to deprive citizens of their voting rights. Calling for opposition unity, he said that removing Modi from power was necessary to protect democracy.

Addressing opposition leaders and supporters gathered for the protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Kharge urged people to unite against what he described as ‘vote chori’. He also accused the government of using central investigative agencies to intimidate opposition leaders and claimed that electoral manipulation had helped the BJP form governments in several states.

The rally triggered a wider political confrontation, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP president JP Nadda criticising the Congress over the timing of the November 1 gathering, which coincided with the anniversary of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. BJP leaders also accused the opposition of disrupting business during the festive season, while Rahul Gandhi countered that shops in Connaught Place had allegedly been forcibly shut.

Kharge Attacks Modi, Calls for Opposition Unity to Save Democracy

Speaking at the INDIA bloc rally, Kharge said democracy could be protected only if Prime Minister Narendra Modi was removed from office. He accused the BJP government of attempting to divide people and interfere with their voting rights.

“If PM Modi goes then only democracy can be saved,” Kharge said.

The Congress president urged opposition parties and citizens to continue their collective political struggle, arguing that the protection of constitutional values and democratic institutions required a united challenge to the ruling party.

“We will fight unitedly to remove Modi, protect Constitution, strengthen democracy and save country,” he said.

Kharge alleged that the Prime Minister was attempting to create divisions among people and that the BJP was trying to take away citizens’ votes. He called on people not to remain passive in the face of what the opposition describes as electoral irregularities.

“PM Modi is trying to divide us; he’s trying to snatch votes of people,” Kharge said.

He also argued that political change would require sustained public participation and a strong collective response from citizens.

“PM Modi will go only when you fight strongly,” the Congress president said.

‘Modi Jayega, Zarur Jayega’: Kharge Repeats Patna Slogan

Kharge reiterated his assertion that Modi would eventually leave office, using the slogan “Modi jayega, zarur jayega” during his address at Ramlila Maidan.

The remark echoed an earlier statement he had made at an event in Patna, which had triggered a political controversy. By repeating the slogan at the INDIA bloc rally, the Congress president sought to reinforce his appeal for opposition unity and a collective political challenge to the BJP.

His speech linked the opposition’s demand for accountability in the electoral process with its broader political campaign against the Modi government. Kharge maintained that the alliance would continue its efforts to protect the Constitution and democratic institutions.

Kharge Accuses Modi Government of Using ED to Intimidate Opposition

Kharge also targeted the Centre over the alleged misuse of central investigative agencies against opposition leaders. He claimed that the government was using agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to frighten political opponents and weaken their activities.

“PM Modi tries to use govt agencies like ED to scare us, but we’re not going to be scared as we all know how to fight,” he said.

The Congress president said opposition leaders would not retreat despite what he described as pressure from the government. He urged INDIA bloc partners to maintain a united position and continue their political campaign.

Kharge also accused the BJP of forming governments through electoral manipulation in different states, including Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra. These allegations formed part of his broader criticism of the ruling party and its approach to elections.

“In Bihar, UP, Maharashtra, there are ‘chori govts’; we will not rest till BJP is ousted,” Kharge said.

The BJP has not accepted the opposition’s allegations of electoral manipulation. The dispute over voter rolls and the functioning of the Election Commission remains a major point of political confrontation between the two sides.

Rahul Gandhi Accuses BJP of Forcibly Shutting Connaught Place Shops

Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused the BJP of forcibly shutting shops in Delhi’s Connaught Place, claiming that the alleged closures had caused financial losses to local traders during the festive season.

Speaking in a video recorded from an open vehicle while travelling towards the Minto Road-Connaught Place junction, Gandhi said the INDIA bloc had encouraged people attending the rally to purchase goods from local businesses.

He argued that the opposition gathering could provide an opportunity for traders to benefit from the arrival of visitors in the capital, particularly during the festive period.

“But upon reaching Connaught Place, we learned that the BJP has forcibly shut down all the shops. The country is watching how the BJP is causing loss to the shopkeepers,” Gandhi said.

His remarks came a day after he appealed to people travelling to Delhi for the march and rally to support local traders through festive purchases.

In a video statement posted on X on Saturday night, Gandhi said lakhs of people were expected to arrive in the national capital from different parts of the country for the gathering at Ramlila Maidan. He urged them to combine their participation in the protest with shopping from small businesses.

“It is the festive season. Diwali, Chhath and Bhai Dooj are here. I want the lakhs of people coming to Delhi from different parts of the country to support the local traders,” he said.

Gandhi also rejected the BJP’s allegations that the rally would hurt businesses.

“I know that our rally will not hurt the traders. The BJP is spreading rumours because it is scared,” he said.

He appealed to supporters to participate in the demonstration while purchasing goods from local shops, saying the political gathering and support for traders could take place together.

Amit Shah Questions Congress Over November 1 Rally

Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched a counterattack against the Congress, questioning its decision to organise the INDIA bloc rally on November 1, the anniversary of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

Speaking at an event in Chandigarh, Shah accused the Congress of disregarding the sentiments of the Sikh community by holding a major political gathering on a date associated with the violence that followed the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

Shah alleged that thousands of Sikhs were killed in the violence and blamed the Congress for the events. He also referred to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s controversial remark following the riots.

“When a big tree falls, the earth shakes,” Rajiv Gandhi had said.

The Home Minister claimed that the BJP had urged the Congress through press conferences to avoid holding its rally on November 1, 2 or 3, citing the significance of these dates for the Sikh community.

Taking a swipe at Rahul Gandhi, Shah said the Congress leader might not have understood the historical significance of the date when the decision was made.

“We assumed that perhaps he was too young at the time, or that he hadn’t studied history and was therefore unaware,” Shah said.

Shah further alleged that the Congress leadership had received instructions from abroad to organise the rally on November 1 despite repeated requests to postpone it. He condemned the decision during his address in Chandigarh.

Shah Raises Concerns Over Delhi Traders’ Business Losses

Shah also questioned the economic impact of the INDIA bloc rally, claiming that traders in Delhi had asked the opposition alliance to postpone the gathering until after Diwali.

According to the Home Minister, business worth around Rs 25,000 crore takes place in the national capital during the three to four days surrounding the festival. He claimed that traders had held three press conferences, written letters and repeatedly requested a change in the rally schedule.

Shah said traders were concerned about unsold stocks of sweets, firecrackers and new clothes during the festive period. He used these concerns to criticise the opposition’s decision to proceed with the gathering.

Taking another swipe at Rahul Gandhi’s political ambitions, Shah suggested that the Congress leader should remain in a ‘mock Parliament’ if he wanted to become Prime Minister.

“I would like to tell Rahul-ji: if you want to be Prime Minister, then just stay in a ‘mock parliament’ for the rest of your life because your turn is never going to come,” Shah said.

The Home Minister also accused the opposition of spreading falsehoods, creating disorder and obstructing parliamentary proceedings.

JP Nadda Calls INDIA Bloc Rally a ‘Foolish Drama’

BJP president JP Nadda also criticised the opposition gathering, describing it as a “foolish drama”. He accused Rahul Gandhi and the Congress of hurting the sentiments of the Sikh community by organising the protest on the anniversary of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

Nadda described November 1 as a dark day in India’s democratic history and alleged that Congress-linked individuals were responsible for violence against Sikhs during the riots.

“The day of November 1 is the ugliest and darkest blot on India’s democratic history. On this very day, goons patronised by Congress massacred our innocent Sikh brothers. Thousands and lakhs of Sikh families became homeless overnight,” Nadda said.

He also alleged that the Gandhi family had not apologised to the Sikh community for the violence and referred to Delhi’s Widow Colony as a reminder of the tragedy.

Nadda accused the Congress of following what he described as a four-stage political strategy involving spreading misinformation, creating unrest on the streets, damaging the economy and attempting to destabilise an elected government. He also alleged that the opposition was acting at the behest of foreign powers.

BJP Claims Rally Could Affect Festive-Season Trade

Nadda said the rally could affect small businesses during the festive period. He claimed that the Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) had written three times to Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav and Mamata Banerjee, requesting them not to organise a large gathering in Delhi during the festivals.

He alleged that previous protests had caused traders losses of nearly Rs 3,000 crore and estimated that Sunday’s rally could lead to additional losses exceeding Rs 10,000 crore.

These figures were presented by the BJP president as estimates of the economic impact of protests and the current gathering. The available information does not independently establish the extent of losses suffered by traders during the November 1 rally.

“Rahul Gandhi, listen carefully. You cannot hide the dark history of November 1. You cannot escape answering for the tears of Delhi’s traders,” Nadda said.

He also warned that the gathering would prove to be the “final nail in the coffin” of the Congress’s political decline.

INDIA Bloc Rally Against Alleged Electoral Irregularities

The Ramlila Maidan gathering was organised as part of the INDIA bloc’s campaign against alleged electoral irregularities. Opposition parties have demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, accusing the Election Commission of failing to protect the integrity of the electoral process.

The rally followed the opposition alliance’s unanimous adoption of a resolution seeking Kumar’s impeachment. Opposition leaders have raised concerns about the electoral process and alleged irregularities in voter rolls, making the Election Commission a central focus of their campaign.

Leaders and supporters from several states travelled to New Delhi for the ‘Chalo Dilli’ march and rally. The gathering brought together opposition parties around their demands concerning electoral accountability and the functioning of democratic institutions.

The BJP, meanwhile, challenged the timing of the demonstration and raised concerns about its impact on Delhi’s traders and the Sikh community’s sentiments. The competing claims turned the rally into a wider political confrontation involving electoral issues, the 1984 riots and the economic consequences of public demonstrations.

Amit Shah Announces Drug-Free Punjab Target and Chandigarh Projects

Separately, Amit Shah announced the government’s target of making Punjab and the country drug-free by December 31, 2029. He made the announcement during his visit to Chandigarh, which coincided with celebrations marking the city’s 60th Foundation Day and the 60th Raising Day of Chandigarh Police on November 1.

During the visit, Shah inaugurated projects and laid foundation stones for development works worth Rs 258 crore. The package covered areas including education, healthcare, justice, administration, research and innovation, and included two inaugurations and seven foundation stone-laying ceremonies.

One of the projects was the Chandigarh Transport Undertaking (CTU) bus depot at Raipur Kalan, which is being developed at an estimated cost of Rs 68 crore. Shah expressed confidence that the facility would emerge as one of the country’s leading inter-state bus depots.

He also said Chandigarh Administrator Gulab Chand would announce a resolution to three major long-pending issues affecting the city within a week. Shah said some of these matters had remained unresolved for 30 to 40 years.

The Home Minister added that the BJP government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi would work towards making Chandigarh the country’s number one administrative unit.

Political Dispute Extends Beyond the Ramlila Maidan Rally

The November 1 gathering brought several political disagreements into focus. Kharge used the platform to accuse the Modi government of undermining democratic institutions and called for opposition unity. Rahul Gandhi raised allegations about shop closures in Connaught Place, while Shah and Nadda criticised the rally’s timing and its potential impact on traders.

The controversy over the anniversary of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots added another dimension to the confrontation, with BJP leaders questioning the Congress’s decision to hold the event on that date. The opposition, meanwhile, maintained that its central purpose was to protest alleged electoral irregularities and demand accountability from the Election Commission.

With both sides continuing to exchange accusations, the rally has become a flashpoint in the wider political debate over electoral processes, democratic institutions, historical accountability and the economic impact of political demonstrations.