The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday held a protest march in west Delhi’s Hari Nagar, targeting the Congress over the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. The protest came as the INDIA bloc organised a rally at Ramlila Maidan in central Delhi against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar and alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Puri led the BJP march and described the violence that began on November 1, 1984, as a planned massacre rather than spontaneous public anger. He said the violence continued for four days and accused the Congress of being part of a well-planned conspiracy. Puri also questioned the party's decision to hold its political rally on November 1, calling the date insensitive to the Sikh community.

“There has been a concerted effort to argue that the violence was spontaneous and caused by anger among people. This is not right... The violence started on November 1 but continued for four days. It was a well-planned conspiracy... The Congress should introspect. If they had to select a day for this [protest], should it have been November 1?” Puri said, describing the 1984 violence as “genocide”.

The march started from Hari Nagar depot and covered around one kilometre before reaching Tilak Nagar metro station. Thousands of BJP workers carrying national flags and party banners joined the protest. They held placards blaming the Congress for the 1984 killings and raised slogans against the party and the Gandhi family, demanding an apology.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta also participated in the march alongside cabinet ministers Manjinder Singh Sirsa and Ashish Sood, Delhi BJP chief Harsh Malhotra and other senior leaders.

Wearing a black headband, Gupta recalled how a Sikh neighbour had taken shelter at her parents’ home during the violence. She said the riots forced lakhs of Sikhs to cut their hair to hide their identities and protect themselves. She accused the Congress of choosing November 1 for political gains and alleged that Rahul Gandhi was promoting lawlessness to gain power.

Gupta further said Congress leaders speak about the Constitution, but the 1984 violence amounted to the murder of the Constitution and democracy.

Delhi BJP chief Harsh Malhotra accused Congress leaders, including Sajjan Kumar, of direct involvement in the violence against Sikhs. He alleged that houses were identified and specifically targeted during the riots.

“Congress leaders like Sajjan Kumar were directly responsible for the genocide against Sikhs. They even targeted and identified certain houses... The Congress has deliberately chosen this day for its protest. We have reached here in large numbers to pay homage to the martyrs of this genocide,” Malhotra said.