The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rally in Bhopal led to the closure of at least six schools and criticism from opposition leaders over potential disruptions for students and traders.
In addition to the six schools that were closed on Wednesday due to traffic congestion expected during the 'save democracy, remove anarchy' march organized by the BJP, according to Dainik Bhaskar, the district education officer had issued an order on Tuesday asking all government and private schools to assess the impact of traffic disruptions on student commute and make necessary changes, including declaring a holiday if required. The Times of India reported this information as well. The rally passed through New Market, one of Bhopal’s busy commercial areas. The Hindustan Times added that the BJP-ruled state's capital organized the rally in response to Opposition protests since October 2 demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over concerns about the Election Commission’s functioning and alleged irregularities in the revision of electoral rolls. The Congress party, which is part of the opposition, has criticized the decision to close schools for the rally. Congress state president Jitu Patwari asked why children and parents should 'bear the brunt' of disruptions caused by the BJP’s rally. He added: ‘Has education for kids in Madhya Pradesh now become hostage to the BJP’s so-called programs?’ Congress leader Abhinav Baroliya also criticized the decision, stating that disrupting access to markets and public amenities to hold a political event was inappropriate at this time, especially during the Hindu festival of Dhanteras, which falls on Friday and is considered an auspicious day for shopping. PTI reported this criticism.
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