Union home minister Amit Shah on Sunday targeted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi amid the ongoing INDIA bloc’s protest in Delhi, saying his turn to become the prime minister would never come.
The rally was attended by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee, Telangana chief minister Revanth Reddy, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, Jammu and Kashmir National Conference president Farooq Abdullah, CPI leader D Raja, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti and other INDIA bloc leaders, news agency ANI reported. INDIA bloc’s ‘Chalo Dilli’ march began at the Minto Road-Connaught Place junction on Sunday, with leaders including Rahul Gandhi, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee proceeding towards Ramlila Maidan. Separately, BJP leader and Sambalpur MP Dharmendra Pradhan participated in the party’s ‘ Loktantra Bachao, Arajakta Hatao’ (Save Democracy, End Anarchy) padayatra in Faridabad on Sunday, where he targeted Rahul Gandhi and the Congress.
The remarks came a day after the INDIA bloc held a mock Parliament session to ‘publicly impeach’ chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, who faces allegations of irregularities in the electoral processes. Pradhan was accompanied by Union minister of state Krishan Pal Gurjar, minister of state Rajesh Nagar, Haryana sports minister Gaurav Gautam, several MLAs and party workers during the march, organised as part of the BJP’s nationwide campaign. His call came after the traders body wrote to him, citing concerns over losses ahead of Diwali.
The protest follows a mock impeachment programme against CEC Gyanesh Kumar held on October 31 at Kharge’s residence. Earlier reporting noted: In its fourth letter to Rahul Gandhi, traders’ body flag concerns over INDIA bloc rally: ‘80% of shops may be shut’ As Opposition leaders are gathering to hold a protest rally on Sunday at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, the traders body has once again written to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, claiming that the rally could affect 80% of business across 20 markets. Earlier reporting noted: In its fourth letter to Gandhi, the Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) has claimed that despite the Congress leader’s call to protesters to shop local, the rally could lead to the closure of around 2.5 lakh shops and a halt in transport operations within a 10-km radius.
“If you want to become PM, stay in mock parliament your entire life; your turn won’t come,” Shah said in Chandigarh, addressing Gandhi, news agency PTI reported.
Earlier reporting noted: The letter comes after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had earlier urged protestors to make festival purchases to support local traders, asking them to “protest, march and shop.
The home minister targeted the INDIA bloc’s protest being held in Delhi on Sunday. Opposition leaders and supporters in large numbers gathered at Ramlila Maidan for the ‘Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao’ rally against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, over alleged discrepancies in electoral rolls and concerns surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.
