INDIA Bloc Rally, Traders Protest Over Diwali & BJP Counter-March Spark War

India Today

A major political faceoff has erupted ahead of Diwali over the INDIA bloc's planned November 1 rally at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan. Despite strong appeals from local traders highlighting prospective festive business losses, the Opposition alliance confirmed it will proceed with the demonstration against alleged vote theft and the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. The Opposition maintained protests will halt if Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar resigns. In response, the BJP has mounted a nationwide padayatra counteroffensive under its campaign against anarchy, featuring senior leaders across multiple states. Meanwhile, political rhetoric intensified sharply following controversial remarks directed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, drawing severe condemnation from the BJP.

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00:00Now, all of this is not stopping the politics around the election commissioner because the

00:04national capital in particular is bracing for a political showdown ahead of Diwali.

00:09Rahul Gandhi today dug his heels in saying the India bloc will go ahead with the November 1

00:15rally. This despite a section of traders warning of festive business losses. According to Rahul

00:21Gandhi, the rally will be called off in 30 seconds if Gyanesh Kumar resigns. The BJP for its part

00:28is preparing a nationwide padiyatra counter-offensive accusing the India bloc of spreading anarchy.

00:36It's our top focus tonight.

00:43Chalo Dilli, it's not just a march, it's a call to confront vote chori.

00:48India bloc's rally against alleged vote chori is firmly on track for November 1st at Ramlila

00:54Maidan, despite mounting appeals from traders to push it beyond the festive season. Congress

01:00President Malika Arjun Kargay laid all doubts to rest on Monday, posting a video on social

01:05media calling for people's support.

01:09Chalo Dilli, 1st of November Sunday, Ramlila Maidan, New Delhi.

01:32But for Delhi's traders, the political showdown comes at the worst possible time, the peak Diwali

01:38shopping season.

01:47Rahul Gandhi, however, has a message for the traders. If the Chief Election Commissioner,

01:53Gyanesh Kumar, is removed, protests against the special intensive revision of electoral rolls

01:58will also stop. Meanwhile, the BJP is also taking the battle to the streets. As part of its ongoing

02:06Lok Tantra Bachao, Rajakta Hatau campaign running from October 23rd to November 5th, the party is

02:13organising nationwide padiyatras, deploying senior leaders, union ministers and BJP chief ministers.

02:21On November 1st, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath will lead a padiyatra in Lakhno. Union Home

02:28Minister Amit Shah will take part in a padiyatra in Hyderabad on November 2nd, followed by another in

02:33Karnal, Haryana on November 5th. Meanwhile, the political battle is already getting personal. In Patna,

02:41Congress Chief Malika Arjun Kargay lost his school on Sunday after a remark from the audience about Prime

02:46Minister Narendra Modi. The BJP has strongly condemned the remark.

03:28With political rallies competing for the streets during the festive season, the question is,

03:34which narrative will work on the ground? Bureau Report, India Today

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