Delhi BJP's anti-anarchy march in Chandni Chowk: Harsh Malhotra slams Congress, AAP opposition
Synopsis
Delhi BJP president Harsh Malhotra has gone on the offensive ahead of the party's 'Loktantra Bachao Arajakta Hatao' march in Chandni Chowk on 28 October, accusing Congress and AAP of hypocrisy for opposing a symbolic two-hour padyatra while themselves having blocked Delhi's roads for weeks. The BJP has promised flowers, not stones — and no disruption to trade.
Key Takeaways
Delhi BJP president Harsh Malhotra criticised Congress and AAP on 27 October for opposing the party's planned padyatra.
The 'Loktantra Bachao Arajakta Hatao' Padyatra (Save Democracy – Remove Anarchy March) is scheduled for Chandni Chowk on 28 October .
Malhotra called Opposition objections 'hypocrisy', citing weeks of road-blocking protests by their supporters.
The BJP has deployed Yuva Morcha and Trade Cell workers to ensure business activities in Chandni Chowk are unaffected.
Malhotra pledged the march will be peaceful , lasting two hours , and conducted within the framework of the Constitution.
Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Harsh Malhotra on Tuesday, 27 October 2026, sharply criticised the Indian National Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for opposing the BJP's planned 'Loktantra Bachao Arajakta Hatao' Padyatra (Save Democracy – Remove Anarchy March), scheduled for Chandni Chowk, New Delhi on Wednesday, 28 October. Malhotra accused both parties of hypocrisy, arguing that those who have paralysed Delhi's roads through weeks of protests are now objecting to a symbolic two-hour march.
What Malhotra Said
Addressing reporters, Malhotra drew a pointed contrast between Opposition-led demonstrations and the BJP's planned padyatra. "Those who have held Delhi's businesses and the general public hostage by blocking Delhi's roads for weeks, sometimes in the name of students and sometimes in the name of removing the Election Commissioner, are today opposing a symbolic two-hour padyatra. This is not opposition; it is hypocrisy," he said.
He further charged that Opposition protests have been marked by what he described as anti-national slogans, violence, stone-pelting, and damage to public property. The BJP's march, he insisted, would be a peaceful and disciplined padyatra conducted within the framework of the Constitution. "We will not throw stones but shower flowers in honour of democracy," Malhotra said.
Assurances on Business Disruption
A recurring criticism of large political marches through Chandni Chowk — one of Delhi's busiest commercial corridors — is the disruption they cause to traders and commuters. Malhotra moved to pre-empt that concern, announcing that workers of the Yuva Morcha and the Trade Cell would be deployed specifically to ensure business activities continue as normal during the march. "Our programme is symbolic and will conclude peacefully within two hours," he said.
BJP's Stated Objective
Malhotra framed the march as a democratic response to what the BJP characterises as a culture of anarchy created by the Opposition. "Our objective is to remove anarchy, save democracy, and raise the voice of the people," he said, contrasting this with what he alleged was the Opposition's goal of holding Delhi hostage by creating disruption. He also reiterated the BJP's stated commitment to dialogue: "In a democracy, everyone has the right to dissent, but no one has the right to create anarchy. The BJP has always stood for dialogue, peace, and democratic propriety."
Political Context
The march comes amid heightened political tensions in Delhi, where the BJP and AAP have been locked in sustained confrontations over governance, civic issues, and electoral legitimacy. This is the latest in a series of public mobilisations by the Delhi BJP aimed at positioning the party as a defender of democratic order ahead of anticipated electoral cycles. The Congress and AAP have not yet issued a formal joint response to Malhotra's remarks, though their reported objections to the padyatra itself have set the stage for a combative political week in the capital.
Point of View
However, is any acknowledgement that the right to protest — including road demonstrations — is constitutionally protected, regardless of the cause. The BJP's selective critique of 'anarchy' risks sounding partisan unless it applies the same standard uniformly.
NationPress
28 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 'Loktantra Bachao Arajakta Hatao' Padyatra?
It is a march organised by the Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) scheduled for Chandni Chowk on 28 October 2026, translating to 'Save Democracy – Remove Anarchy March'. The BJP says it will be a peaceful, symbolic two-hour walk conducted within the framework of the Constitution.
Why is Harsh Malhotra criticising Congress and AAP?
Delhi BJP president Harsh Malhotra accused Congress and AAP of hypocrisy for opposing the BJP's padyatra, arguing that those parties have themselves blocked Delhi's roads for weeks during their own protests. He said their objection to a two-hour symbolic march exposes a double standard.
Will the march disrupt business in Chandni Chowk?
The BJP has said it will not. Workers from the Yuva Morcha and the Trade Cell are to be deployed specifically to ensure that commercial activities in Chandni Chowk continue as normal during the march, which is expected to conclude within two hours.
What does the BJP say distinguishes its march from Opposition protests?
Malhotra claimed that Opposition demonstrations have involved anti-national slogans, violence, stone-pelting, and damage to public property, while the BJP's padyatra will be peaceful and disciplined. He summed up the difference with the phrase: 'We will not throw stones but shower flowers in honour of democracy.'
What is the broader political context of this march?
The march comes amid sustained political tensions between the BJP and AAP in Delhi, with both parties trading accusations over governance and democratic conduct. It is part of the Delhi BJP's ongoing effort to position itself as a defender of democratic order ahead of future electoral contests in the capital.
