The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Tuesday, 27 October 2026, launched a sharp attack on the Opposition INDIA bloc over its planned 'Delhi Chalo' march scheduled for 1 November at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi, accusing it of disrupting Hindu festivals and traders' livelihoods ahead of the Diwali season.

What the VHP Said

VHP Spokesperson Vinod Bansal, posting on X (formerly Twitter), targeted the INDIA bloc directly, saying: 'INDI leaders, refrain from attacks on Hindu festivals and the economy in the name of protests. The appeal to postpone the November 1 rally came from traders, so it was rejected outright. If it had come from jihadis, they would have prostrated themselves in apology and cancelled the rally too!'

Bansal also invoked the significance of the date, noting that 1 November coincides with Ahoi Ashtami — a fasting festival observed by mothers for the well-being of their children — and described the timing as a deliberate affront to Hindu religious sentiment.

Escalating Rhetoric Against Congress and Allies

Slamming the Congress party specifically, Bansal said the rally exemplified what he called 'Congressi culture.' He alleged that earlier efforts had similarly been made to 'cast a shadow' over Navratri and Dussehra festivities. 'These Triple C (Congressi, Communist, and Communalist Jihadi) gangs are plotting from all sides to lay siege and ruin traders' businesses, Hindus' faith, the joy of festivals, and the country's economy!' he said in his post.

The VHP spokesperson called on citizens — and Hindu society in particular — to 'stay vigilant against people and organisations that persist on this anti-Hindu path.'

Rahul Gandhi Holds Firm on Rally

Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Monday made clear he would not back down, posting on X: 'To every trader in Delhi: We love you and hear you. The Govt shut the metro, sealed our roads and locked down our capital. With a stolen vote, nothing is safe — your shop, your savings, your children's future. Tell Modi to sack accused no. 4, Gyanesh Kumar, and the protests will stop in 30 seconds.'

Gandhi's post framed the rally as a democratic response to what he described as government overreach and disputed electoral conduct, rather than a deliberate targeting of festivals or trade.

Traders Renew Plea to Reschedule

The Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) wrote to Gandhi again on Tuesday, urging him to reschedule the mega-rally until after the Diwali festivities. A copy of the letter was also sent to Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge, requesting him to discuss the matter with INDIA bloc allies. The traders' body had made a similar appeal earlier, which Gandhi's camp reportedly rejected, prompting the VHP's criticism that genuine concerns from the business community were being dismissed.

Context and What's Next

This comes amid a broader pattern of political mobilisation timed around major Hindu festivals, a flashpoint that opposition parties and ruling alliance supporters have repeatedly clashed over. Notably, the 1 November date falls just days before Diwali, which is widely regarded as the peak trading period for Delhi's commercial districts. Whether the INDIA bloc proceeds as planned — or yields to trader pressure before the weekend — will be closely watched as both a political and economic signal ahead of the festive period.