Hundreds of Sikh activists converged on Hari Nagar in Delhi on Nov 1, staging a silent march to counter the INDIA bloc's rally at Ramlila Maidan. The protest marks a direct challenge to BJP leader Rahul Gandhi, who has insisted on holding the rally on a day that recalls the 1984 riots.
BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad denounced the decision, calling it a "cruel joke" that would "rub salt into the wounds" of Sikh survivors. In response, Congress spokesperson Akhilesh Sharma said the party’s plan was a demonstration of democratic unity, not an affront to any community.
Sikh activist Harpreet Singh, who lost a brother in the 1984 violence, said the march was “a quiet yet powerful reminder that history must not be ignored.” He added that the gathering would culminate in a joint statement with Congress leaders urging the government to honour the memory of those lost.
The rally’s organizers plan to broadcast the march live, hoping to draw nationwide attention to the demand for a de‑troubled political calendar. By the end of the day, the leaders will convene for a televised address, laying out a roadmap for future civic engagement.