On Sunday, 1st November, Congress workers tore down posters put up across Central Delhi that expressed the deep pain of the 1984 Sikh massacre victims. The posters had been put up along Minto Road and other parts of Delhi, remembering the victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. One of the posters carried the message, “Neither forgotten nor forgiven”, while another read, “Sadkon par baha tha Sikhon ka Khoon, Gehri nind me tha Congress kanoon” (Sikh blood flowed on the streets while the Congress government remained fast asleep).
A video of the incident shows two Congress workers climbing a pole and tearing down the posters. The posters were part of a campaign to remember the victims of the 1984 massacre and highlight the suffering of the Sikh community.
“Neither forgotten nor forgiven”, Sikhs put up posters across Delhi remembering the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Congress workers raised “tear them down” slogans and went on to rip the posters apart. @Anurragmishra reports. https://t.co/KYFYuPMjgA
— OpIndia.com (@OpIndia_com) November 1, 2026
INDIA Bloc holds march at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan
The incident took place on the same day the INDIA Bloc organised a mega rally at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi. Rahul Gandhi, Mamata Banerjee, Akhilesh Yadav and other opposition leaders participating in the rally. The opposition alliance is protesting alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and demanding the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Meanwhile, the BJP organised a separate march to remember the victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. The march was scheduled from Tilak Nagar to Hari Nagar, with senior leaders, including Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa, expected to participate.
Delhi Police made security arrangements, including the deployment of police personnel and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), CCTV surveillance and drones. Police said Ramlila Maidan could accommodate around 40,000 to 50,000 people, with additional arrangements possible outside the venue.
The incident drew criticism from the BJP. BJP National Spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari condemned the act and shared a post on his X account, writing, “Congress hates Sikh brothers & sisters! Congress tears the posters expressing pain of 1984 Sikh massacre victims!”
Congress hates Sikh brothers & sisters! Congress tears the posters expressing pain of 1984 Sikh massacre victims! https://t.co/0QE61G9MYC
— Pradeep Bhandari(प्रदीप भंडारी)🇮🇳 (@pradip103) November 1, 2026
Congress’ pattern of fomenting chaos
The choice of 1st November for the Congress-led opposition’s demonstration has also become a point of political controversy. Choosing 1st November, the date coinciding with the peak of the 1984 anti-Sikh violence, reflects an ongoing trend. The date for the latest rally proved that the Congress’ pattern of fomenting chaos and unrest remains unchanged, organising political confrontations during a period meant for remembrance of thousands of Sikhs.
The anti-Sikh violence erupted after Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards, Satwant Singh and Beant Singh, on 31st October, 1984. From 1st November to 4th November that year, Delhi and other parts of the country witnessed widespread attacks on Sikh families, homes, businesses, and places of worship. The 1984 anti-Sikh riots resulted in the brutal killings of more than 2,800 people, according to official figures cited in subsequent court proceedings, while overall government figures suggest angry mobs brutally murdered 3,350 Sikhs. Unofficial figures claim that around 8,000 to 17,000 Sikhs lost their lives.
Angry mobs, many of which were led by Congress leaders, targeted the community, and Congress leaders Sajjan Kumar and Jagdish Tytler were directly accused of playing a large role in orchestrating the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in India.
However, Congress had tried to justify the riots. On 19th November, 1984, while giving a speech in front of thousands of people, then-Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi said, “Jab bhi koi bada ped girta hai, to dharti thodi hilti hai” (“When a big tree falls, the earth shakes”), a remark that remains a controversial chapter in the history of the 1984 massacre.
