New Delhi, October 28, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Opposition leaders on Wednesday criticised the BJP’s proposed ‘Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy’ march ahead of the Congress’s mega rally in Delhi, accusing the ruling party of weakening democratic institutions and misusing government machinery against political opponents. They also questioned the alleged disparity in granting permission for political rallies and protests organised by the BJP and Opposition parties.
Speaking to IANS, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi alleged that the BJP had undermined several institutions, including the Election Commission, financial institutions and investigative agencies.
“Democracy needs to be saved from the Bharatiya Janata Party, given the way it is undermining every institution, whether it is the Election Commission, our financial institutions or our investigative agencies,” she said.
Chaturvedi accused the BJP of misusing these institutions to influence political parties and weaken its opponents, describing the party’s march as a case of “the pot calling the kettle black”.
CPI(M) leader Hannan Mollah said every political party had the right to organise marches, rallies and protests but questioned the manner in which the government and administration handled events organised by the ruling party and the Opposition.
“Any political party has the right to organise its programmes, marches, rallies and protests. However, how the government and administration treat these events is important,” Mollah said.
He alleged that the ruling party received administrative support and access to government resources for its programmes, while Opposition parties faced multiple restrictions.
Referring to the conditions imposed for the Congress rally at Ramlila Maidan, Mollah described them as “the height of brutality”.
Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit also mocked the BJP’s proposed march, saying the party risked inviting public ridicule by organising an event under the banner of saving democracy.
“Absolutely, you want to undertake a march to save democracy. Go ahead. That is a different matter that people on the streets will laugh at you,” Dikshit said, adding that the BJP could proceed if it wanted to make itself a laughing stock.
Dikshit also questioned the BJP’s decision to begin the march from the Red Fort, citing the monument’s historical association with Mughal rule.
“The Red Fort is a symbol of Mughal power. Why do they keep coming back to this place?” he asked.
He questioned the choice of the historic monument in light of what he described as the BJP’s approach to presenting Mughal history, arguing that the party’s position on the subject appeared inconsistent with its choice of starting point for the march.
Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) spokesperson Anish Gawande also questioned the alleged disparity in granting permission for political rallies.
Welcoming the proposed rally by BJP leader Nitin Nabin, Gawande asked why the BJP was permitted to organise its programmes while other groups allegedly faced restrictions.
“I am very happy that Nitin Nabin ji is holding a rally. But someone should ask him how his rally gets permission when others are not granted permission for their rallies,” Gawande said.
He cited student movements and the efforts of the parents of Ankita Bhandari as examples of cases in which, he alleged, permission to organise programmes had been denied.
“Why is permission granted only to the Bharatiya Janata Party?” he asked.
Gawande further accused the BJP of contributing to an atmosphere of anarchy and said the circumstances surrounding the granting of permissions for political events warranted scrutiny.
The Opposition leaders’ remarks came ahead of the Congress’s planned mega rally in Delhi, with the BJP’s proposed march triggering a political exchange over democratic institutions, freedom of protest and the administration’s handling of political gatherings.
FOLLOW NOW
