‘Chose political drama’: Delhi CM Rekha Gupta jabs Rahul Gandhi over 1984 riots anniversary

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta criticized Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for organizing a protest at Ramlila Maidan on the anniversary of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Gupta and other senior BJP leaders marched from Hari Nagar Depot to Tilak Nagar Metro Station, attended by Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Delhi BJP president Harsh Malhotra, and other ministers.

Gupta questioned the Congress's claims of upholding democracy, asking, "Was what happened in November 1984 not the murder of democracy?" She stated that thousands of Sikh families had lost loved ones and continued to await justice. Gupta emphasized that Rahul Gandhi's actions were a "politics of anarchy" and a "desperate pursuit of power over remorse and accountability."

She also drew a parallel with the Emergency imposed in 1975, saying those who spoke about democratic values must answer for their past. Delhi BJP president Harsh Malhotra criticized the Congress's decision to hold a rally on the anniversary, saying it reopened the wounds of affected families. Union Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa questioned the Congress's delay in securing justice for the victims and referred to the compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the families of victims. Sirsa also referred to the Justice G P Mathur Committee's formation to examine victims' grievances.