CPI-M's Hannan Mollah accuses BJP of double standards over Ramlila Maidan rally row
Synopsis
CPI-M's Hannan Mollah has turned the Ramlila Maidan rally controversy back on the BJP, arguing that a BJP President's rally the very next day would cause identical disruptions — yet face zero criticism. With the INDIA bloc also pushing a mock impeachment of the Chief Election Commissioner, this weekend is shaping up as a high-stakes political showdown in the capital.
Key Takeaways
CPI-M leader Hannan Mollah accused the BJP of double standards on 30 October over trade-disruption concerns linked to the Congress rally at Ramlila Maidan on 1 November .
The Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) warned the rally could affect trade worth ₹10,000–12,000 crore across 30 major Delhi markets .
Mollah pointed out that a BJP President's rally scheduled for Saturday would cause similar disruptions but had drawn no comparable criticism.
The INDIA bloc's mock impeachment programme targeting CEC Gyanesh Kumar was postponed from Friday to Saturday due to rain in New Delhi .
Mollah clarified the 'People's Impeachment' would be a mock parliamentary session with awareness and campaign value, not a formal constitutional proceeding.
Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Hannan Mollah on Friday, 31 October 2026, hit back at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing it of applying double standards in the controversy surrounding the Congress rally planned for 1 November at Ramlila Maidan, New Delhi. Mollah's remarks came hours after the Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) urged Congress leader Sonia Gandhi to postpone the event, citing potential trade disruptions across 30 major markets in Delhi.
The Double-Standards Charge
Mollah pointed out that a BJP rally scheduled for Saturday involving the BJP President would similarly force thousands of shops to close, yet had drawn no comparable criticism from trade bodies or the government. 'Tomorrow, the BJP President is holding a rally, which will cause thousands of shops to close. But there won't be any loss cited for that! When the BJP does it, there's no loss, but when the opposition does it, there is a loss,' he said.
The remarks go to the heart of a long-running political tension in Delhi: that trade and civic complaints about public rallies are selectively amplified depending on which party organises them.
CTI's Concern Over Business Disruption
The Chamber of Trade and Industry had flagged that the Congress rally on 1 November — coinciding with the run-up to Diwali — could disrupt trade worth ₹10,000–12,000 crore across Delhi's commercial hubs. The body urged Sonia Gandhi to shift the event to a post-Diwali date to minimise losses for small traders.
Mollah dismissed the concerns as politically motivated. 'These are all excuses because the government is nervous. First, they gave permission; now they can't stop it, so they are using thousands of excuses to try and block it. But all of this is false and misleading. Markets don't shut down and stop functioning over a one-day rally; markets keep running. These are just excuses to defame the opposition's rally,' he said.
Mock Impeachment of Chief Election Commissioner
Mollah also addressed the INDIA bloc's proposed 'People's Impeachment' programme targeting Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. He clarified that the initiative would take the form of a mock parliamentary session rather than a formal constitutional proceeding, designed to build public awareness around the allegations against the CEC.
'This decision was made in the INDIA bloc that he will be impeached. Officially, impeachment happens in Parliament, but this will be a mock session. That means it carries propaganda and awareness value,' Mollah said. He added that the programme would include a presentation of allegations, a debate, and the passage of a symbolic impeachment motion. 'It has campaign value to highlight the issues, his offences, and show that Members of Parliament have given their opinion to impeach him,' he said.
Rain Forces Postponement of Mock Session
The mock impeachment programme, originally scheduled for Friday afternoon, was postponed to Saturday after New Delhi received unexpected rainfall. The postponement adds logistical pressure on the opposition bloc, which is simultaneously managing the 1 November Ramlila Maidan rally.
With both events now clustered around the same weekend, the political temperature in the capital is set to rise further ahead of the festive season.
Point of View
While staying silent on an identically disruptive BJP rally the very next day. Mollah's counter lands because the asymmetry is visible. The deeper issue is that Delhi's political rally culture routinely externalises costs onto small traders and commuters, and no party — BJP or opposition — has proposed any structural fix. The mock impeachment of the CEC is a high-risk gambit: it generates headlines but also invites ridicule if the symbolism outpaces the substance of the underlying allegations. The INDIA bloc needs the rally and the mock session to land coherently this weekend, or the optics of disorganisation — compounded by a rain delay — will overshadow the message.
NationPress
30 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Hannan Mollah accuse the BJP of double standards?
Mollah accused the BJP of double standards because a BJP President's rally scheduled for the very next day would also force shops to close across Delhi, yet faced no criticism from trade bodies or the government. He argued that disruption concerns were being selectively raised only when the opposition organised events.
What did the Chamber of Trade and Industry say about the Congress rally?
The Chamber of Trade and Industry urged Congress leader Sonia Gandhi to postpone the Ramlila Maidan rally, scheduled for 1 November, until after Diwali. It warned the event could disrupt trade worth ₹10,000–12,000 crore across 30 major markets in Delhi.
What is the INDIA bloc's 'People's Impeachment' programme?
It is a symbolic mock parliamentary session planned by the INDIA bloc to highlight allegations against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Mollah clarified it is not a formal constitutional impeachment but a campaign exercise designed to build public awareness, involving the presentation of allegations, debate, and a mock impeachment motion.
Why was the mock impeachment programme postponed?
The mock impeachment programme, originally scheduled for Friday afternoon, was postponed to Saturday due to unexpected rainfall in New Delhi. The opposition bloc is now managing both the mock session and the Ramlila Maidan rally in the same weekend.
When is the Congress rally at Ramlila Maidan scheduled?
The Congress rally is scheduled for 1 November at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi. Trade bodies have raised concerns about its proximity to the Diwali festive season, warning of significant commercial disruption.
