Venue change, mismanagement make Soha’s march for film on 1984 riots a no-show

Soha Ali Khan was to lead a candlelight march in Delhi on Friday for the release of her film '31st October', based on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, but after three hours of confusion and mismanagement, the march never took place. Supporters were supposed to gather at Jantar Mantar with candles and posters reading, ‘We support 31st October’, however, both remained unused.Supporters of the cause and victims of the riots were expected to be part of the march, however, only 3-4 people were in attendance.
Change in venue of the march
Earlier, the team was supposed to begin the protest march at Rakabganj Gurudwara and end it at India Gate. This was later changed, and it was decided that the march will begin at Bangla Sahib Gurudwara and end at Jantar Mantar. When Soha arrived with the film’s producer Harry Sachdeva, almost an hour after the scheduled time, there was already a lot of chaos at the Gurudwara. Those who had come there to offer prayers noticed all the cameras and then wanted to meet the actress, they even requested Soha for selfies inside the Gurudwara.
The crowd outside Bangla Sahib Gurudwara (BCCL)
For almost an hour, no one could tell whether the march was even going to happen or not, as the actor and the production team remained inside the Gurudwara committee’s room. After about half-an-hour, the team came out, and instead of marching towards the venue, which is what one would expect at a protest march, they decided to reach Jantar Mantar by car. And that’s not all, instead of going to Jantar Mantar, the team went and lit candles in front of the Parliament Street police station. Meanwhile, members of the production team, security and the media were left waiting at Jantar Mantar. Police officials stationed outside Jantar Mantar, the Gurudwara and the YWCA had nothing to handle.
Soha Ali Khan inside the Gurudwara (BCCL)
We couldn’t move, so we had to take a car to reach protest venue: Harry Sachdeva
Soha and Harry were joined by Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) president Manjit Singh GK and general secretary Manjinder Singh Sirsa. When asked why the march was such a disaster, Harry said, "I was also expecting something else, it was complete mismanagement.The media didn’t let us go ahead with the march, there was so much chaos. We weren’t able to move because of the huge crowd. We had to reach the venue by car, there was no other option." He added, "I won’t say the march failed, because people like Manoj Tiwari and Manjinder Singh Sirsa are supporting us and the release of the film. Two other prominent personalities came to support us at the march, but they left after seeing the swelling crowd at the Gurudwara."