‘Offer Apology Instead’: Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s All-Out Attack On Congress Over 1984 Riots Ahead Of Nov 1 Rally

Last Updated:October 22, 2026, 12:20 IST

The opposition INDIA bloc has called for a rally at the Ramlila Maidan in Delhi to demand the rollback of the Special Intensive Revision and the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan | File Image

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan targeted the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, ahead of the INDIA bloc’s proposed November rally at the Ramlila Maidan in Delhi.

The opposition INDIA bloc has called for a rally at the Ramlila Maidan in Delhi to demand the rollback of the Special Intensive Revision and the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.

“He is the problem, not the solution. The country needs a solution. This ‘regime change’ gang is dreaming, thinking they can come to power by spreading anarchy”, said the minister.

Invoking the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, Chouhan said that the Congress should apologise instead of holding a rally.

“I appeal to them to be the solution, not the problem. The country can never forget what happened on November 1—the day the massacre of Sikhs took place in the country. On that day, Congress should be offering an apology, not holding a rally”, he said.

Call For November 1 Protest

On September 30, the INDIA bloc agreed on a joint action plan over the SIR row, which included rallies and ‘Save Democracy’ marches. This also included a mega rally on November 1 at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan.

The opposition has been alleging what it calls “vote theft” under the slogan, “Save the vote, save the country (Save your vote, save the country)”.

Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge had said that the Congress would organise a mega rally in Delhi on November 1.

The opposition INDIA bloc and the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) along with various student groups have been holding parallel protests in several parts of the country to demand the rollback of the controversial SIR and the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar.

However, it remains unclear whether the CJP will be invited to join the November 1 rally.

Led by Abhijeet Dipke, the CJP was at the forefront of a massive student-led protest in July over irregularities in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET-UG) 2026, which culminated in the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan as the Union Education Minister.

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What is the primary demand of the INDIA bloc’s November 1 rally at Ramlila Maidan?

The opposition INDIA bloc is holding a mega rally at the Ramlila Maidan in Delhi to demand the rollback of the Special Intensive Revision and the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Why did Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan demand an apology from Congress?

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan criticized Congress and invoked the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, stating that the party should offer an apology on November 1 instead of holding a rally.

What led to the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan as Union Education Minister?

Dharmendra Pradhan resigned following a massive student-led protest in July over irregularities in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test, which was led by Abhijeet Dipke and the Cockroach Janta Party.

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Meemansa ShekhawatSub-editor

A Journalism graduate, Meemansa Shekhawat is a sub-editor at News18. Driven by a keen interest in news, she is a passionate writer with specialisation in national and international affairs. You can re…Read More

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