22 September,2026 05:02 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
The VBA held a meeting with party workers in Akola ahead of its “We Stand With Iran” march in Mumbai. Pic/X (@VBAforIndia)
The Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) will stage a protest at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) in Mumbai on October 1 over what party chief Prakash Ambedkar described as the government's "pro-Israel approach" amid the ongoing conflict involving Iran, reported the PTI.
Prakash Ambedkar said that the VBA would demand that India change its position and extend support to Iran. He also appealed to people in Maharashtra to participate in the protest in large numbers.
Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, Prakash Ambedkar said that the conflict in West Asia was affecting the Indian economy and argued that India needed to take into account its economic interests.
"The Gulf war is impacting the Indian economy. Iran has always stood with us. India should change its stand of supporting Israel and should stand with Iran," he said, according to the PTI.
India has previously said that the West Asia conflict has significant implications for the country's energy security, trade routes and the safety of Indians living and working in the Gulf.
Ambedkar said efforts should be made to bring down crude oil prices to prevent pressure on the Indian economy and household budgets, the news agency reported.
Ambedkar also criticised what he described as attempts to keep people focused on caste and religious issues.
"Dharm is important, and many great leaders, including Mahatma Gandhi, Jyotiba Phule and Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, didn't reject religion, but they emphasised that social life is also important," he said, as per the PTI.
The VBA chief urged people across Maharashtra to participate in the October 1 protest at CSMT.
The proposed demonstration comes amid continuing political debate in India over the country's response to the West Asia conflict and its implications for energy supplies and the economy. India has publicly called for restraint, dialogue and diplomacy in response to the conflict, the news agency reported.
VBA held a meeting with party workers in Akola ahead of its "We Stand With Iran" march scheduled to be held in Mumbai on October 1, 2026.
The meeting was held at the Circuit House in Akola in the presence of Prof Anjali Ambedkar, national leader of the VBA. Party leaders urged workers and supporters from Akola district to participate in the Mumbai march in large numbers.
According to a post shared by the VBA on X, the march will be held under the leadership of Prakash Ambedkar. The party said the demonstration would convey its opposition to the Centre's approach towards Iran and call for India to support Iran.
(with PTI inputs)
