'Stay quiet or I'll speak for 1 hour': Kharge jokes at Ramlila Maidan rally - video

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge sparked laughter at a large rally in New Delhi on Sunday when he warned his supporters he could speak for an hour if they didn't remain quiet. During his five-minute speech, Kharge exclaimed, "Dekho aap agar chup baithenge, main 5 min mei apna bhaashan khatam kar raha hoon. Aap chup nahi baithenge, main 1 ghanta apna bhaashan karunga."

The exchange occurred as the INDIA bloc, led by opposition parties, rallied against the government's proposed electoral roll revision and chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Attendees included several high-ranking opposition leaders such as Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and Akhilesh Yadav.

Kharge also took aim at the BJP, accusing it of winning elections through "vote theft" in key states like the Centre, Maharashtra, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh. He called for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's removal, asserting that democracy could only thrive if he left office. "The public does not elect them," Kharge stated, "They choose themselves. We must remove these thieves."

The rally was part of the INDIA bloc's "Chalo Delhi" protest march, which aimed to protest the electoral roll revision and alleged irregularities. Opposition leaders and supporters from across India gathered to discuss concerns over the SIR exercise and demand the removal of the current government.

Meanwhile, BJP leader Dharmendra Pradhan participated in his party's "Loktantra Bachao, Arajakta Hatao" (Save Democracy, End Anarchy) march in Faridabad on Sunday. Pradhan accused Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party of losing faith in democratic institutions. He was joined by several BJP ministers and party workers as they marched to protest what they perceived as the erosion of democracy.