The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Tuesday, October 27, accused the Congress and other opposition parties of conspiring to disrupt Hindu festivals and damage the economy over the opposition’s November 1 rally at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi.
In a post on X, VHP national spokesperson Vinod Bansal alleged that opposition leaders had rejected traders’ appeal to postpone the rally, claiming they would have agreed to defer it had the request come from certain other groups.
“INDI leaders must desist from conspiring to target Hindu festivals and the economy in the name of protests. The appeal to postpone the November 1 rally came from traders, so it was rejected,” Bansal wrote.
He also pointed out that Ahoi Ashtami, a festival during which mothers observe a fast for the well being and longevity of their children, falls on the same day.
Traders Seek Postponement of Rally
The VHP’s remarks came a day after traders staged a protest at Kashmere Gate in Delhi, urging the Congress to defer its November 1 rally until after Diwali.
Chamber of Trade and Industry chairman Brijesh Goyal said traders would write to all parties in the INDIA bloc over the issue.
Traders also wrote to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, requesting that the rally be rescheduled.
They cited concerns that security arrangements, road closures and traffic diversions could disrupt business in major markets during the festive season.
Responding to the demand on Monday, Gandhi said on X that the protests would “stop in 30 seconds” if traders asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to sack Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the opposition’s allegations of “vote chori”.
Rally Over Electoral Roll Revision
The opposition rally at Ramlila Maidan aims to mount pressure on the government and demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The opposition has raised concerns about the electoral roll revision process, while the November 1 gathering is expected to be part of its campaign over the issue.
Bansal, meanwhile, accused Congress, Communists and other groups of attempting to hurt Hindu religious celebrations and the economy.
“Beware! This triple C gang (Congress, Communists and communalists) is laying a trap from all sides to destroy traders’ businesses, Hindu faith and the prosperity of festivals, as well as cripple the country’s economy,” he said.
He alleged that similar attempts had been made during Navratri and Dussehra and claimed that Diwali was now being targeted.
Bansal urged people, particularly members of the Hindu community, to remain vigilant against organisations he accused of following an anti Hindu agenda.
He also asserted that opposition leaders would not succeed in their alleged attempts to harm Hindu society or the Indian economy.
The Congress and other opposition parties have not been quoted responding directly to Bansal’s allegations in the available statements.
