Praveen Shankar Kapoor Targets Rahul Gandhi Ahead of Rally

Political temperatures are rising in the national capital as the INDIA bloc prepares for its rally at Ramlila Maidan on November 1. BJP leader Praveen Shankar Kapoor has raised doubts about Rahul Gandhi's assertion that 10 lakh people will attend the event.

In a conversation with IANS, Kapoor said the Congress MP had been claiming for a while that 10 lakh people would arrive in Delhi on November 1. He noted that several political gatherings have previously taken place at Ramlila Maidan, and that he has a clear understanding of the ground's capacity.

Kapoor reached Ramlila Maidan on Saturday morning and reviewed the preparations. He said the ground had tricolour-themed barricading on both sides, with chairs arranged in the centre. By his estimate, roughly 20,000 to 22,000 chairs could be accommodated, but only 8,000 to 10,000 chairs had been set up during his inspection.

Using sharp language, Kapoor said that only a person who speaks of converting potatoes into gold could claim that 10 lakh people would come in view of arrangements for 22,000 chairs. He also commented on the mock parliament organised by Rahul Gandhi, urging him to focus on gaining a majority in the real Parliament. Kapoor further brought up the National Herald case in his criticism of the Congress leader.

Bihar government minister Jama Khan, meanwhile, said that every protest brings hardship for ordinary citizens and traders and affects economic activity. He said India is an independent nation with a democratic system, and the opposition has full right to express its views and protest. However, he said the method of protest should not create needless troubles for the common public.

Khan said the public had elected the present opposition to power for years, but when governments fail to deliver, the people also remove them from power. Speaking about the functioning of the NDA government in Bihar, he said several development works had taken place under former chief minister Nitish Kumar. He accused the opposition of opposing even the good initiatives of the government and said the public has understood the opposition's rhetoric and criticism.