Photo Source: ANI
"Attempt to rub salt in wounded Sikh community": Ravi Shankar Prasad slams Rahul Gandhi’s Nov 1 rally call
New Delhi, October 24, 2026 (ANI): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Ravi Shankar Prasad on Saturday criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for refusing to reschedule the party’s November 1 rally, alleging that holding the event on the date would hurt the sentiments of the Sikh community.
Addressing a press conference here, Prasad accused Gandhi of deliberately choosing to hold the rally on November 1 and condemned his refusal to change the date.
"Rahul Gandhi is, in a very calculated manner, attempting to rub salt into the wounded sentiments of the Sikh community by insisting on holding his rally on the 1st of November. He refuses to reschedule it. We condemn this in the strongest possible terms," Prasad said.
The BJP MP also highlighted steps taken by the Narendra Modi government that he said honoured the sentiments of the Sikh community, citing the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor and the recognition of the martyrdom of the sons of Guru Gobind Singh, who were walled up alive.
Questioning Gandhi over the date of the rally, Prasad asked, "Why November 1st, Mr. Rahul Gandhi? What is the reason behind your stubborn resolve to hold your rally specifically on November 1st? What message are you trying to convey?"
He further alleged that the message from the Congress leader was that the party did not care about the sentiments of the Sikh community.
Recalling a remark by Congress leader Sam Pitroda on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, Prasad said Pitroda had asked, "Why keep bringing up '84? What happened, happened."
Meanwhile, the Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) on Saturday wrote to Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, urging him to postpone the party’s November 1 rally at Ramlila Maidan until after November 10, citing the peak festive trading season and the potential impact on businesses in the national capital.
In its letter, CTI Chairman Brijesh Goyal requested that the rally be rescheduled to a date after Bhai Dooj, which falls on November 10 this year.
The traders’ body highlighted that Dhanteras, Diwali and Bhai Dooj are among the busiest periods for Delhi’s retail markets, with traders beginning festive purchases and sales well in advance.
According to the letter, "Dhanteras falls on November 6, Diwali on November 8 and Bhai Dooj on November 10. The organisation estimated that Dhanteras alone accounts for business worth around Rs 25,000 crore in Delhi, covering sectors such as gold and silver, utensils, electronics, clothing, dry fruits, sweets, automobiles, furniture and other goods". (ANI)