Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) national spokesperson Vinod Bansal on Tuesday accused the INDIA bloc of conspiring to disrupt Hindu festivals and harm the national economy, criticising opposition leaders for refusing to postpone their November 1 rally at Ramlila Maidan following an appeal from Delhi’s traders.
“The appeal to postpone the rally on November 1st came from the trading community, yet it was rejected. Had such a request come from ‘jihadis,’ they would have prostrated themselves in apology and immediately cancelled the rally! Such is the nature of the ‘Congressi’ culture. “Conspiracies are being hatched to cast a shadow over the joy and prosperity of our nation’s greatest festivals–first during Navratri and Dussehra, and now during Diwali! it asked the Congress to consider the interests of Delhi’s business community While acknowledging the right of parties to hold rallies.
The traders’ body said Dhanteras alone accounts for business worth around ₹ 25,000 crore in Delhi. CTI said 20 major wholesale and retail markets lie within five kilometres of Ramlila Maidan and could be hit by traffic diversions, metro station closures and barricading. Because of road closures and diversions in central Delhi, it also claimed traders had already incurred losses of about ₹ 3,000 crore in October.
This date also coincides with ‘Ahoi Ashtami’—a significant fast observed by mothers, praying for the well-being and longevity of their children,” Bansal said. Bansal also accused the Congress, Communists and what he termed “Communalist Jihadis” of working together against traders and Hindu festivals. The citizens of this country–especially the Hindu community–must remain vigilant against individuals and organizations that consistently pursue an anti-Hindu agenda,” he said. In a video message on X, he alleged that the government “only knows how to steal votes” and reiterated the opposition’s demand for the CEC’s resignation and an immediate halt to the SIR.
Internal discussions are reportedly continuing within the Congress leadership on the appeals from trade bodies to defer the event. Congress General Secretary (Organisation) K C Venugopal has said the party expects 10 lakh people at the rally. Meanwhile, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday urged people to join the rally against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
