Manish Tewari slams BJP's 'Save Democracy' padayatra as 'strange irony'
Synopsis
Congress MP Manish Tewari turned the BJP's own 'Save Democracy' slogan on its head on Wednesday, arguing that restoring voting rights to 13 crore allegedly disenfranchised citizens — not a ruling-party foot march — is what actually protects the Constitution. With the INDIA bloc's 'Vote Bachao' rally set for 1 November at Ramlila Maidan, the battle over electoral rolls is rapidly becoming the defining political flashpoint in Delhi.
Key Takeaways
Congress MP Manish Tewari on 28 October called the BJP's 'Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy' padayatra a 'strange irony.' Tewari demanded restoration of voting rights for 13 crore people he said have been disenfranchised by the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
BJP National President Nitin Nabin led the foot march through Chandni Chowk , joined by Delhi CM Rekha Gupta and state BJP President Harsh Malhotra .
The Opposition INDIA bloc has announced a 'Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao' rally at Ramlila Maidan on 1 November .
Tewari also flagged Punjab's narco-terrorism challenge, warning it has persisted since 1995 .
The Punjab government reportedly denied permission for the Jakhar Trust's seventh annual anti-drug marathon in Abohar .
Congress MP Manish Tewari on Wednesday, 28 October sharply criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) 'Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy' padayatra in Delhi, calling it a 'strange irony' that a party in power was holding a rally while the Opposition was on the streets fighting to protect voting rights.
What Tewari Said
Speaking to reporters, Tewari said, 'It is a strange irony. The Opposition protests against the government when it does something wrong, and here, the Opposition is protesting to protect voting rights. It is unusual that those in power are holding a rally. What are they holding a rally for? If you want to save the Constitution, restore the voting rights of the 13 crore people who have been deprived of them, and the Constitution will be protected.'
The remarks directly targeted the BJP's framing of the march, turning its own slogan against it by linking constitutional protection to the restoration of electoral rolls rather than a counter-protest.
The BJP March and Its Context
BJP National President Nitin Nabin is scheduled to lead the foot march through Chandni Chowk in Delhi on Wednesday. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, state BJP President Harsh Malhotra, Members of Parliament, and senior party leaders are also expected to participate in the march.
The padayatra is part of the BJP's broader outreach campaign, launched amid growing Opposition protests over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Critics, including Congress, allege that the SIR process has disenfranchised voters — a charge the BJP has not publicly addressed in detail.
INDIA Bloc's Countermove on November 1
The BJP's march assumes added political significance as it precedes the Opposition INDIA bloc's planned rally in Delhi on 1 November. The alliance has announced a 'Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao' rally at Ramlila Maidan to protest what it calls irregularities in the ongoing SIR of electoral rolls. The two competing mobilisations reflect a deepening standoff over the integrity of voter rolls ahead of any future electoral cycle.
Tewari on Punjab's Narco-Terrorism Challenge
Separately, Tewari raised alarm over Punjab's long-standing law and order situation, particularly the challenge of narco-terrorism. 'I have maintained, and have also written about this, that Punjab has been going through an era of narco-terrorism since 1995. Just as terrorism was fought and eliminated between 1980 and 1995, Punjab must unite and collectively fight narco-terrorism, or drug-fuelled terrorism, to protect future generations,' he said.
His remarks came on the same day the Punjab government reportedly denied permission for the seventh annual anti-drug marathon organised by the Jakhar Trust in Abohar, citing the prevailing law and order situation. The trust, associated with the family of BJP leader Sunil Jakhar, has held the event annually under the slogan 'Nashon Se Door, Khelon Ki Ore', promoting sports as an alternative to drug abuse.
The denial of the marathon permit adds a fresh political dimension to Punjab's ongoing debate over drug-related governance, with the opposition likely to press the state government on the decision.
Point of View
Congress tries to keep the SIR controversy — and not the BJP's optics — at the centre of Delhi's political conversation. The BJP's decision to mobilise in Chandni Chowk just days before the INDIA bloc's Ramlila Maidan event suggests both sides are competing for the narrative on electoral integrity rather than the legal remedy. Notably, the substantive question — whether the SIR process has in fact disenfranchised voters at scale — remains unresolved in the public domain, and neither side has produced granular data. The denial of the Jakhar Trust's anti-drug marathon in Punjab is a reminder that the ruling AAP government there faces its own accountability questions, even as its national alliance partners take the high ground on democratic rights.
NationPress
28 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the BJP's 'Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy' padayatra?
It is a foot march led by BJP National President Nitin Nabin through Chandni Chowk in Delhi on 28 October 2026, organised as a counter-outreach amid Opposition protests over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Delhi CM Rekha Gupta and senior BJP leaders also participated.
Why did Manish Tewari call the BJP rally a 'strange irony'?
Tewari argued it is unusual for a ruling party to hold a rally in defence of democracy, suggesting that is typically the role of the Opposition. He said the real constitutional duty would be to restore voting rights to the 13 crore people he claims were disenfranchised by the SIR process.
What is the INDIA bloc's 'Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao' rally?
It is a rally planned by the Opposition INDIA bloc at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi on 1 November 2026, protesting alleged irregularities in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. The Opposition claims the SIR has deprived millions of voters of their franchise.
What did Tewari say about Punjab's narco-terrorism problem?
Tewari said Punjab has been grappling with narco-terrorism since 1995 and called on the state to unite and fight it collectively, drawing a parallel with how terrorism was eliminated between 1980 and 1995. He warned the menace threatens future generations.
Why was the Jakhar Trust anti-drug marathon denied permission in Punjab?
The Punjab government reportedly refused permission for the seventh annual anti-drug marathon organised by the Jakhar Trust in Abohar, citing the prevailing law and order situation. The trust, linked to BJP leader Sunil Jakhar's family, runs the event under the slogan 'Nashon Se Door, Khelon Ki Ore'.
