BJP to launch nationwide padyatra today to counter Opposition's SIR campaign; Amit Shah to participate

NEW DELHI: The BJP will launch a nationwide padyatra (march) from today to directly engage with people and explain the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

BJP national president Nitin Nabin will launch the campaign by leading a march from the Red Fort to Chandni Chowk in Delhi. The party aims to counter the Opposition's protests and explain the SIR exercise to the public through rallies, press conferences and other programmes across the country. The campaign, which will continue until November 30, will be led by Union ministers and Chief Ministers of BJP-ruled states. Its slogan is 'Protect Democracy, End Anarchy'.

On November 1, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will lead a march in Lucknow, while Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma will lead one in Shimla. Union Home Minister Amit Shah will participate in the padyatra in Hyderabad on November 2. The BJP aims to bring around one lakh people to the programme. Shah will also attend another march in Karnal, Haryana, on November 5, along with Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is also likely to participate in the march in Madhya Pradesh. Union Minister J.P. Nadda, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami will lead programmes in different states.

Target of 10,000 participants at each venue

The BJP aims to organise padyatras at all district headquarters across the country, with a target of bringing around 10,000 people to each programme. Tarun Chugh, Bhupender Yadav, Harish Dwivedi and Shivraj Singh Chouhan have been assigned the responsibility of coordinating the campaign.