Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on Wednesday, 28 October 2026, sharply criticised the INDIA bloc for scheduling its rally at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi on 1 November, asserting that the chosen date would reopen the wounds of the 1984 anti-Sikh massacre and amount to rubbing salt in them. Meghwal also accused Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi of deliberately attempting to create an atmosphere of anarchy and unrest in the country.

Meghwal's Remarks on the Rally Date

Meghwal said the Opposition parties should have factored in the historical weight of 1 November before fixing it as the date for their protest. “November 1 is reopening the wounds of the Sikh massacre that took place after October 31, 1984, and rubbing salt into them. At the very least, they should not have chosen November 1 for this decision. They do not want to make decisions in the national interest. They want to spread anarchy and unrest in the country. This is Rahul Gandhi’s only objective,” he said.

The minister further claimed that factions within the INDIA bloc itself were uncomfortable with the date but alleged that Rahul Gandhi had refused to reconsider. “Some parties within their INDIA bloc also disagree with holding the rally on November 1. But Rahul Gandhi acts like an emperor. Once he has decided that the protest will be held on November 1, then it will be held on November 1. They have also rejected the traders’ protest and ignored their opposition,” Meghwal said.

Impact on Traders and the Festive Economy

Meghwal questioned the timing of the rally, arguing that it fell during the peak Diwali festive season, when markets typically witness their highest annual footfall and sales volumes. He alleged that scheduling a large protest in the heart of the capital at this juncture risked disrupting trade and commercial activity at its busiest point in the calendar.

Responding to Rahul Gandhi’s characterisation of the Indian economy as a ‘dead economy’, Meghwal cited a growth rate of 7.8 per cent as a direct rebuttal. “Perhaps they chose November 1, around Diwali, to disturb the economy and harm the growing economy. Traders are protesting, but they are ignoring them as well,” he added.

EVM and Electoral Roll Controversy

On the Congress and INDIA bloc repeatedly raising questions about Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, Meghwal pointed to what he described as a glaring contradiction in the Opposition’s position. He noted that Congress leaders in Kerala had attributed their own electoral victories to the SIR process, even as the party nationally questioned its fairness.

“When you do it, it is fine, but when we do it, it is wrong. What kind of contradiction is this in their conduct?” he asked, also referencing Congress-governed states including Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Telangana as examples of elections where EVMs had delivered results in the party’s favour.

Election Commission Meeting Row

Meghwal also addressed the episode involving the Opposition’s attempt to meet the Election Commission of India (ECI), accusing Rahul Gandhi of defaming constitutional institutions on the basis of “false and baseless facts.” He claimed the ECI had asked the Opposition to provide a list of attendees before scheduling an appointment, but alleged that the bloc sought to arrive with 300 MPs without furnishing the required list. The group subsequently gathered near the Akashvani premises and later met the President, he said.

“If 10 people could go and meet the President, then 10 people could also have met the Election Commission,” Meghwal said, adding that Congress leaders later claimed the President had accepted their points without presenting evidence to support their allegations.

Kharge Remarks on PM Modi’s Father

Meghwal demanded an apology from Congress president and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge for remarks he made about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s father. He described the comments as deeply inappropriate for a senior leader and a national president of a major political party.

“I have never seen such vulgar language from a person in public life. This shows how much hatred he has in his heart for the Prime Minister. You can oppose him, you can make sarcastic remarks, but will you abuse his father, who is no longer in this world? Kharge will have to apologise to the country; the people will not forgive him,” Meghwal said.

The political temperature in New Delhi is set to remain elevated as the 1 November rally approaches, with both the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the INDIA bloc sharpening their positions ahead of the event.