The Delhi Chief Minister, Manjinder Singh Sirsa and other BJP representatives referred to victims and unresolved questions surrounding the riots.
BJP March Takes Place Alongside Opposition Rally
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over the INDIA bloc’s decision to hold its November 1 rally at Ramlila Maidan. Her remarks came during a BJP march from Hari Nagar Depot towards Tilak Nagar Metro Station, organised on the anniversary of the 1984 anti-Sikh violence.
The opposition gathering focused on alleged electoral irregularities and objections to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists. The BJP march instead centred on the memory of the 1984 violence and the demand for accountability for victims.
Gupta Questions Congress’s Position
Gupta questioned the Congress’s claims about defending democratic and constitutional values, arguing that the party should acknowledge its historical responsibility towards families affected by the violence. She referred to the deaths and suffering of Sikh families and criticised the choice of November 1 for a major political event.
Senior BJP Representatives Participate
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, BJP Delhi president Harsh Malhotra, Union Minister of State Manjinder Singh Sirsa and Delhi minister Ashish Sood were among those who joined the march. Members of the Sikh community also participated.
The procession provided a platform for BJP leaders to renew their criticism of Congress and highlight the continuing demand for justice among survivors and families.
Sirsa Refers to Investigations and Compensation
Sirsa discussed investigations into the 1984 cases, including the formation of a Special Investigation Team in 2015 to reopen serious cases that had previously been closed. He also referred to compensation measures for affected families and said unresolved legal matters remained important.
His remarks connected the march’s political message with continuing questions about investigations, accountability and support for survivors.
Rakab Ganj Gurdwara Allegations Revisited
Sirsa also referred to the violence at Rakab Ganj Gurdwara on November 1, 1984, in which two Sikh men were killed. He raised allegations that had emerged during investigations concerning Congress leader Kamal Nath. Nath has denied the allegations.
The claims remain part of the wider political debate over responsibility for the 1984 violence and the pursuit of justice.
Electoral Dispute and Historical Debate
As BJP leaders spoke about the 1984 violence, Rahul Gandhi was addressing the INDIA bloc rally and making allegations about voter deletions. The two events therefore placed separate issues at the centre of Delhi’s political discussion: electoral-roll revision and the legacy of the anti-Sikh violence.
The parallel programmes demonstrated how the same date became the setting for competing political arguments.