New Delhi, 24 October (H.S.): Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Saturday questioned Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s decision to hold a rally at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan on November 1, alleging that the choice of date would hurt the sentiments of the Sikh community.

Ravi Shankar Prasad said November 1 was associated with painful memories of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and argued that insisting on holding a rally on that date amounted to reopening the community’s wounds. The BJP strongly condemned the decision, he said.

Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters, Ravi Shankar Prasad said Rahul Gandhi might have political differences with the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but questioned whether the Congress leader was equally indifferent to the concerns of ordinary citizens and business owners. He alleged that Gandhi was unwilling to listen to others and remained adamant about proceeding with the rally on the chosen date.

Referring to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, Ravi Shankar Prasad recalled the violence that erupted following the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, saying the Sikh community continued to remember those events with profound anguish. He also cited a controversial remark made by then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, who had said, “When a big tree falls, the earth shakes.”

The BJP leader accused the Congress of attempting for years to suppress the truth about the 1984 violence and protect those accused of involvement. He said that after the BJP-led government came to power under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was constituted to investigate cases related to the riots. He also referred to compensation provided to affected families and the convictions of several accused persons.

Ravi Shankar Prasad further claimed that traders in Delhi had written to Rahul Gandhi, urging him to reconsider the rally date because of concerns that it could affect festive-season shopping and business activity. He also alleged that some of the Congress’s political allies were unhappy with the choice of date.

Questioning Gandhi’s reluctance to reschedule the event, Ravi Shankar Prasad argued that the concerns of the Sikh community and the business sector warranted serious consideration. He described the Congress leader as irresponsible and accused him of disregarding public concerns and people’s sentiments.

The BJP leader also criticised the Congress over a protest held on the campus of Jamia Millia Islamia University in Delhi. He questioned the presence of Imran Masood, a Congress MP and Uttar Pradesh Congress working president, at the demonstration, asking what he was doing there and what message his presence conveyed.

Ravi Shankar Prasad claimed that slogans reading “Free Kashmir” and “Release Sharjeel Imam” had been written in large letters on the university campus walls. He asked whether the Congress supported such activities and called on the party to clarify its position on the matter.

Referring to Sharjeel Imam, Ravi Shankar Prasad alleged that he had previously advocated cutting off the Chicken’s Neck corridor, the narrow strip of territory connecting northeastern India with the rest of the country. The BJP leader said the Congress should clearly state its position on the slogans and activities in question.

Concluding his criticism, Ravi Shankar Prasad said political differences were legitimate, but maintained that questions concerning India’s unity, territorial integrity and social harmony required clear and unequivocal answers from political parties.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar