BJP chief Nitin Nabin's 'Italian Congress' jab targets Gandhi family at Delhi march
Synopsis
BJP president Nitin Nabin turned a Delhi street march into a pointed attack on the Gandhi family, rebranding 'Congress (I)' as 'Italian Congress' and framing the party's electoral losses as democratic 'purification'. The remarks, alongside a warning that Opposition voices must 'align with the Tricolour', signal a sharply escalating BJP political offensive ahead of upcoming electoral cycles.
Key Takeaways
BJP president Nitin Nabin spoke at the 'Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy' march at Chandni Chowk, Delhi on 28 October 2026 .
Nabin alleged that 'Congress (I)' — formed by late Indira Gandhi in January 1978 — stands for 'Italian Congress' , not 'Congress-Indira'.
He accused Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi of paying lip service to the Constitution while the party 'sinks lower and lower' under his leadership.
Nabin defended the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, alleging Congress wanted 'ghost voter lists' to protect political interests.
He referenced the historic 26 January 1992 Tricolour hoisting at Lal Chowk by then-BJP president Murli Manohar Joshi and Narendra Modi .
Nabin predicted PM Modi would hoist the Tricolour at the Red Fort again on Independence Day 2029 .
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Nitin Nabin on Wednesday, 28 October launched a sharp attack on the Gandhi family and the Indian National Congress at the 'Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy' march in Delhi's Chandni Chowk, claiming the 'Congress (I)' — originally formed by former Prime Minister late Indira Gandhi in January 1978 — stands for 'Italian Congress' rather than 'Congress-Indira'. He described the party's successive electoral defeats as repeated acts of 'purification' by Indian voters.
The Venue and Key Attendees
The march brought together senior Delhi BJP leaders, including Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Delhi BJP president Harsh Malhotra, and Minister Parvesh Verma. Addressing the gathering, Nabin asserted that democracy remains secure under the BJP-led Centre, saying: 'If democracy is in the hands of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, then it is absolutely safe. Citizens know that 140 crore people of the country are the family of the son of the soil of the country — PM Modi.'
Broadside Against Rahul Gandhi and Congress Leadership
Targeting Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Nabin alleged that the Congress leader's stated commitment to the Constitution is performative. 'LoP Rahul Gandhi walks around with a copy of the Constitution; actually, he doesn't care about the Constitution. Whatever Rahul Gandhi says, the Congress deems it right, due to which the party is sinking lower and lower. If they continue to obey Rahul Gandhi, the Congress party will be wiped out,' he said.
He also invoked the Emergency of 1975, warning that attempts to impose one family's authority on the country had historically been punished by voters. 'Whenever you have tried to undermine democracy, citizens have replied by punishing you (in elections),' Nabin said, addressing what he called 'so-called Congress leaders.'
The Electoral Rolls Row and the 'Bahi Khata' Analogy
Nabin also trained his sights on the Congress's reported opposition to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. He alleged the party had a vested interest in maintaining inflated voter lists — what he called 'ghost voter lists' — to serve its 'political interests.' Drawing a Diwali analogy, he compared the voter list clean-up to the traders' tradition of updating their 'Bahi Khata' (account books) on the festival: 'A clear account book reflects the credibility of businessmen. Similarly, a voter list is the account book of a democracy. Whenever attempts are made to clean it, the Congress becomes restless,' he alleged.
He added that the BJP was committed to including every eligible Indian citizen in the rolls while removing 'infiltrators', and that 'every BJP worker is fully prepared to fight for this cause.'
Lal Chowk Legacy and Warning to Opposition
Nabin also referenced the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) call on 16 October for a Tiranga Assembly at Connaught Place in Delhi, juxtaposing it with what he described as BJP's historical sacrifice in hoisting the Tricolour at Lal Chowk in Jammu and Kashmir at the height of militancy. Notably, then-BJP president Murli Manohar Joshi, accompanied by the now-Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indian troops, hoisted the national flag at Lal Chowk on 26 January 1992.
Closing his remarks with a direct warning to the Opposition, Nabin said: 'Even the Opposition leaders know that only if their views align with the Tricolour, they will be able to live in India.' He also predicted that Modi would again hoist the Tricolour at the Red Fort on Independence Day 2029.
Point of View
But its deployment at a formally organised 'Save Democracy' march in Delhi signals a deliberate reframing of the electoral roll revision issue as a patriotism and democratic integrity question — not merely an administrative one. The warning that Opposition leaders must 'align with the Tricolour to live in India' is notably more confrontational than routine political rhetoric, and will likely draw sharp pushback for conflating dissent with disloyalty. What mainstream coverage may miss is the Lal Chowk reference: by invoking 1992, the BJP is actively building a continuity narrative linking Modi's current authority to early sacrifice — a biographical myth-making strategy with clear electoral intent ahead of 2029.
NationPress
28 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did BJP president Nitin Nabin say about 'Italian Congress'?
Nabin alleged that 'Congress (I)' — the faction formed by late Indira Gandhi in January 1978 — stands for 'Italian Congress' rather than 'Congress-Indira', a jab at the Gandhi family's Italian connection through Sonia Gandhi. He made the remarks at the 'Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy' march at Chandni Chowk in Delhi on 28 October.
What is the 'Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy' march?
It is a political march organised by the BJP in Delhi, attended by senior party leaders including Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Delhi BJP president Harsh Malhotra, and Minister Parvesh Verma. The event was used by BJP president Nitin Nabin to attack the Congress and the Gandhi family on issues of democracy, electoral rolls, and the Constitution.
Why did Nitin Nabin criticise Congress over electoral roll revision?
Nabin alleged that the Congress opposed the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls to protect 'ghost voter lists' that serve the party's political interests. He argued that the voter list, like a trader's Bahi Khata, must be periodically cleaned, and accused Congress of resisting every such effort.
What was the significance of the Lal Chowk reference in Nabin's speech?
Nabin highlighted that BJP workers — including then-party president Murli Manohar Joshi and the now-Prime Minister Narendra Modi — hoisted the Tricolour at Lal Chowk in Jammu and Kashmir on 26 January 1992, during the height of militancy. He used this to contrast BJP's 'sacrifices' for national symbols against what he called performative gestures by the Opposition.
What warning did Nabin issue to the Opposition?
Nabin cautioned Opposition leaders that 'only if their views align with the Tricolour, they will be able to live in India.' He also predicted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would hoist the national flag at the Red Fort again on Independence Day 2029, indicating the BJP's confidence about remaining in power.
