Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president Nitin Nabin on Sunday, November 1, called on the Congress to apologise for the 1984 anti-Sikh violence, targeting Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi during a rally in Rohtak, Haryana.
His remarks came as the INDIA bloc gathered at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi for a rally against alleged irregularities in electoral rolls and the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. Referring to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s controversial remark, “when a big tree falls, the earth shakes”, Nabin questioned why the Congress was protesting over electoral issues instead of addressing its past. He also accused the party of blaming constitutional institutions for electoral defeats and urged it to establish internal democracy before questioning the country’s democratic processes.
Demand For Apology
Addressing the BJP’s ‘Loktantra Bachao, Arajakta Hatao’ (Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy) rally in Rohtak, Nabin said the Congress should have expressed remorse and apologised to the Sikh community for the violence that followed former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s assassination in 1984.
Directing his remarks at Rahul Gandhi, he referred to Rajiv Gandhi’s statement about a big tree falling and the earth shaking, arguing that the Congress leadership should acknowledge the suffering and loss of lives during the violence. Nabin questioned the timing of the INDIA bloc’s rally, accusing the Congress of raising concerns about democratic institutions while failing to address its own historical record.
Electoral Dispute Continues
The BJP leader also criticised the Congress over its allegations concerning electoral processes, claiming that the party questioned constitutional institutions when it lost elections but celebrated democracy when it secured victories. He challenged Rahul Gandhi to establish greater internal democracy within the Congress, alleging that the party’s functioning remained centred on the Gandhi family.
Meanwhile, the INDIA bloc’s gathering in Delhi focused on alleged irregularities in electoral rolls during the Election Commission’s SIR exercise. Opposition parties have raised concerns about voter deletions and electoral integrity, while demanding accountability from the poll panel. Nabin’s remarks added to the political exchanges between the BJP and Opposition parties as both sides held rallies on Sunday.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The 1984 anti-Sikh violence remains a painful chapter in India’s history, with thousands of lives lost and families continuing to live with its consequences. Accountability, acknowledgement of suffering and justice for survivors must remain central to any discussion of the tragedy, regardless of political affiliations.
At the same time, disagreements over electoral processes and democratic institutions should be addressed through evidence, transparency and constructive dialogue rather than accusations that deepen political divisions. Remembering historical injustices should not become an opportunity to disregard the pain of survivors or intensify hostility between communities. How can political parties ensure that historical accountability and the protection of democratic institutions remain priorities without turning these issues into instruments of political rivalry?
Also Read: LOP Rahul Gandhi Accuses BJP Of Forcibly Shutting Shops Near Connaught Place During INDIA Bloc Rally
1 नवंबर 1984 में हमारे सिख भाइयों के साथ जो गंदा खेल खेला गया, जो कत्लेआम हुआ, कांग्रेस को उसका प्रायश्चित करना चाहिए था, माफी मांगनी चाहिए थी। लेकिन आज ये रैली करने निकले हैं। मैं पूछता हूं कि राहुल जी, जब सिख भाइयों का कत्लेआम हुआ था, तब आपके पिताजी ने कहा था कि जब बड़ा पेड़ गिरता है, तो धरती कांपती है। धरती के कांपने से हमारे कितने सिख भाइयों का जीवन समाप्त हो गया, उसका पछतावा आपको होना चाहिए था, माफी मांगनी चाहिए थी, लेकिन आप तो प्रदर्शन करने निकले हैं। -भाजपा राष्ट्रीय अध्यक्ष श्री @NitinNabin जी। #SaveDemocracyRemoveAnarchy
— Dr. Sudhanshu Trivedi (@SudhanshuTrived) November 1, 2026
