Rahul’s Rally Reopens 1984 Wounds; Riot Victims’ Families Ask, What About Justice?

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi on Sunday urged people to join the INDIA bloc's 'Chalo Dilli' march in the national capital, calling for public participation in the protest against alleged electoral irregularities and demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.

"Delhi, get ready! Save the Vote, Save the Nation. Come to Connaught Place, let's march together. Or meet directly at Ramlila Maidan — but you must come. Today | 12 PM," he posted on X.

The BJP, however, dismissed the rally as a "designed drama", alleging that its objective was to spread misinformation, rumours and anarchy, damage the country's economy and destabilise an elected government at the behest of foreign powers.

Union Minister J P Nadda on Sunday launched a sharp attack on the Congress and Rahul Gandhi, describing the gathering at Ramlila Maidan as a calculated attempt to create chaos under the guise of defending democracy.

"What is unfolding today at Ramlila Maidan is not an act of respect for democracy; rather, it is a calculated conspiracy to sow chaos and plunge the nation into anarchy under the guise of democratic principles. It is nothing more than a foolish, well-orchestrated political drama staged by those who have been defeated and repeatedly rejected by the people. The public understands this perfectly well," Nadda said.

He alleged that Rahul Gandhi's rally had four objectives: to rub salt into the wounds of the Sikh community, orchestrate riots and chaos in Delhi to destabilise an elected government, deprive traders and shopkeepers of their festive-season earnings, and bring disrepute to the country.

Issuing a warning to Rahul Gandhi, the Union Minister said: "This is India, not some 'banana republic' where you can incite arson, trigger riots, or push an agenda for 'regime change' whenever you please."

Meanwhile, families of victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in Delhi strongly criticised Rahul Gandhi for holding the rally on November 1, the day on which members of the Sikh community were brutally targeted following the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards.

Forty-two years after the massacre, the families said they had not expected the Congress leader to organise a political rally on a day that brought back painful memories of the killings and destruction suffered by the community.

They alleged that the violence was not confined to the killing of Sikhs, but also involved the burning of gurdwaras and copies of the holy Guru Granth Sahib by mobs allegedly linked to the Congress. The families said the scars of the violence remained fresh and that the loss of their loved ones could never be forgotten.

"Today, we are remembering those killed in 1984 at Gurudwara Shaheed Ganj, Tilak Nagar. There is an entire museum here displaying photographs of Sikhs who were massacred during the Congress government's tenure under Rajiv Gandhi. Even though photographs or evidence of many others could not be found, we have made every effort to preserve whatever we could and built this museum," a family member of a riot victim said.

Expressing anger against the Gandhi family, another victim said: "We strongly oppose the rally being organised by the Congress today. We had not expected Rahul Gandhi to do this, but his mindset, along with that of his mother and sister, is against the Sikhs."

He added that the affected families of Tilak Vihar had organised an 'Akhand Paath' to remember those who lost their lives in the violence.

He also recalled that the massive destruction in the national capital followed the controversial statement made by then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi that "when a big tree falls, the earth shakes".

A widow of a riot victim, who lost nearly six members of her family in the violence on November 1, 1984, described the day as deeply painful. She regretted that those responsible for the killings had still not been adequately punished and demanded justice for the victims and their families.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Gowri V

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A Journey of Three Decades Time passes faster than we realise. What feels like a journey that began only yesterday has today grown into more than three decades of a meaningful and fulfilling life devoted to education, journalism, and the empowerment of young minds. My professional journey began with journalism training in New Delhi in 1979. I went on to work as an independent journalist, drawing on my fluency in both English and Telugu. Over the years, I have edited and worked on Telugu articles in both languages, an experience that strengthened my command of language and sharpened my understanding of society, people, and contemporary issues. Yet, my principal profession and enduring passion have always been teaching. My decision to become a teacher was not merely a career choice—it was a calling. Teaching offered me the rare privilege of inspiring young minds, guiding them through their formative years, and making a lasting difference in their lives. I found immense satisfaction in simplifying complex concepts, nurturing curiosity, encouraging independent thought, and building confidence among students. Every moment in the classroom—every question, every moment of discovery, and every spark of understanding—reminded me why I had chosen this path: to empower young people through knowledge, values, and essential life skills. My teaching career began at the grassroots level as a Montessori teacher and gradually progressed to the position of Vice Principal. I had the opportunity to work in reputed educational institutions, including Dilsukhnagar Public School in Hyderabad, where I shouldered both teaching and administrative responsibilities. Although I have always considered myself, at heart, a teacher, my administrative experience enabled me to understand and contribute to the education system from a much broader perspective. For my students, I have always tried to be an approachable and dependable presence—someone they could turn to not only for academic support, but also for guidance and emotional encouragement. At the same time, I developed a reputation as a firm disciplinarian who believed that integrity, fairness, responsibility, and discipline were fundamental to education. I was also consistently appreciated for maintaining clear communication with parents and staff and for ensuring that examinations and other academic processes were conducted with transparency, fairness, and efficiency. As my career progressed, however, I began to feel that academic education alone was not enough. This realization led me to work more closely with students following the SSC and CBSE curricula, while consciously bringing life-skills education into my teaching. I came to understand that education becomes truly meaningful when it prepares children not merely to pass examinations, but to face life. Teaching emotional resilience, self-reliance, social awareness, communication, decision-making, and other practical life skills often had a deeper and more lasting impact than academic achievement alone. I saw how these skills could help students navigate challenges with greater confidence, maturity, and responsibility. My academic background provided a strong foundation for this approach. My degree in Psychology from the University of Madras helped me develop a deeper understanding of young people's minds, their emotional needs, and the influence of their family and social environments. My M.A. in Telugu with First Class from Osmania University.

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