The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Tuesday, October 27, launched a strong accusation against the Congress and other opposition parties, alleging a conspiracy to undermine Hindu festivals and inflict damage on the nation's economy. The Hindutva organisation's remarks in New Delhi centered on the opposition's planned November 1 rally at Ramlila Maidan.
VHP national spokesperson Vinod Bansal, in a statement on X, claimed that Congress leaders disregarded appeals from traders to reschedule the demonstration. He suggested that such a request would have been met with compliance had it originated from "certain other groups." Bansal explicitly warned "INDI leaders" to cease their alleged plots targeting Hindu festivals and the economy under the guise of protest, specifically highlighting that Ahoi Ashtami, a significant festival where mothers fast for their children's well-being, coincides with the rally date.
This VHP condemnation follows a protest held a day earlier at Kashmere Gate, where traders demanded the Congress defer its November 1 event until after Diwali. Brijesh Goyal, chairman of the Chamber of Trade and Industry, confirmed plans to address all parties within the INDIA bloc on this issue. Traders had also formally written to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, expressing worries that heightened security, road closures, and traffic diversions would severely disrupt business in key markets during the crucial festive season.
However, Rahul Gandhi, also taking to X on Monday, offered a conditional halt to the protests. He asserted the rally would "stop in 30 seconds" if traders urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to dismiss Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the "vote chori" controversy. The opposition's rally primarily seeks to pressure the government and demand the CEC's resignation, citing alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Bansal intensified his rhetoric, referring to a "triple C gang" (Congress, Communists, and communalists) that he claims is strategically attempting to destroy traders' businesses, Hindu faith, festival prosperity, and cripple the country's economy. He alleged similar attempts during Navratri and Dussehra, now extending to Diwali. The VHP spokesperson urged the public, particularly the Hindu community, to remain vigilant against entities he described as pursuing an "anti-Hindu path," adding that opposition leaders would ultimately fail in their alleged efforts to harm Hindu society and the Indian economy.
Image: siasat.com
📰 Source: Siasat Gulf