New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Other Backward Classes (OBC) Morcha is gearing up for a major protest outside Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s residence in Delhi on Tuesday. The demonstration comes in response to Gandhi’s controversial statement regarding reservations during his visit to the United States, which has sparked outrage within the BJP’s OBC wing.
Leaders and workers of the BJP OBC Morcha have vowed to “gherao” Gandhi’s home on Akbar Road, with more than 350 private cars and six buses expected to converge on the location. The protest is set to begin on the morning of September 26, with participants primarily mobilising from western Uttar Pradesh.
BJP OBC Morcha regional president Harvir Singh Pal confirmed that workers from key areas, including Ghaziabad, Gautam Budh Nagar, Meerut, and Bulandshahr, are rallying in force. “Most of the vehicles and workers will be from Ghaziabad and Gautam Budh Nagar, with four buses and 75 vehicles from Ghaziabad metropolis, and two buses from Ghaziabad district heading to Delhi,” Pal said.
The rally is set to include workers from across western UP, with Meerut sending more than 30 vehicles, Muzaffarnagar contributing 20, and a strong presence from districts like Hapur, Baghpat, Shamli, and Saharanpur. Pal emphasised that the mobilisation represents the anger felt by many in the OBC community over Gandhi’s statements, which the BJP OBC Morcha views as an attack on the rights of backward and marginalised groups.
Vinod Upadhyay, the Metropolitan President of BJP OBC Morcha, outlined the plan of action. “At 9 a.m., all the leaders and workers will gather at the regional office on Baghpat Road in Meerut. From there, the convoy will march towards Delhi. We will gherao Rahul Gandhi’s residence and demand an apology for his remarks on ending reservations.”
The controversy stems from a comment Rahul Gandhi made about the reservation system during his visit to the United States. BJP leaders have accused Gandhi of advocating the removal of reservations, a policy designed to uplift underprivileged communities. BJP OBC Morcha leaders argue that the Congress Party has long been opposed to reservation, with Pal claiming, “The character of the Congress has always been anti-reservation. From Jawaharlal Nehru to Rajiv Gandhi, they have shown their disdain for policies that benefit backward classes. Now, Rahul Gandhi has confirmed this once again with his statement.”
Pal vowed that the protest would not end until Gandhi issued a formal apology. “Unless Rahul Gandhi apologises for his statement, our movement will continue. He must answer for how he dared to speak against reservation,” Pal said.
The OBC Morcha protest signals yet another instance of growing tensions between the BJP and Congress over issues of social justice and representation. With such large numbers expected to gather, the protest is likely to cause significant disruption around central Delhi, as party workers seek to hold Rahul Gandhi accountable for his comments.
The protest reflects deeper political and social divides over the reservation system, which remains a contentious issue in Indian politics. As the rally builds momentum, the situation could escalate further, with potential for heightened political clashes in the days ahead.
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