The Delhi Police said that it has made elaborate arrangements with checking at every gate and the deployment of paramilitary personnel in and around the Ramlila Maidan for the rally.
I.N.D.I.A. Bloc Rally: The opposition’s I.N.D.I.A bloc is set to hold a “Loktantra bachao rally” on Sunday at Delhi’s Ramlila ground. Ahead of the ‘maha rally’, the Congress has asserted that it is aimed at saving the Constitution and democracy and not any particular person.
The announcement came after Delhi Chief Minister and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case linked to the alleged irregularities in the implementation of the now-scrapped excise policy in the national capital.
Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi took to social media platform X on Saturday and lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that he wants to strangle democracy and take away the option from the people to choose the government of their choice. The Wayanad MP said that it seems as if the country is being run not by a government but by a criminal gang.
On Saturday, the Delhi Police said that it has made elaborate arrangements with checking at every gate and the deployment of paramilitary personnel in and around the Ramlila Maidan for the rally organised by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), news agency PTI reported, citing officials.
According to the officials, the Delhi Police has allowed the Opposition to hold the rally with certain conditions, including no march, no tractor trollies, and no weapons in central Delhi. A strict action will be taken if any violations takes place.
Here Are Top Points:
- Top leaders of the Opposition bloc, including Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray, Akhilesh Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav are expected to attend the rally. It is being held in the backdrop of Kejriwal’s arrest and allegations of misuse of agencies against the opposition by the BJP-led central government.
- Speaking on the I.N.D.I.A. Bloc’s rally, Rahul Gandhi said that tomorrow the opposition is going to hold a big meeting in Delhi to tell the truth about this false, arrogant, and corrupt government. “This fight is between BJP and the rights of the people, in which we stand with the people. India’s victory lies only in the victory of democracy,” he said in a post on X.
- Addressing a press conference on the rally, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and former party chief Rahul Gandhi will address the rally, among other senior leaders. “It is not a person-specific rally. That is why it is called the Loktantra Bachao Rally. This is not one party’s rally, about 27–28 parties are involved in it,” Ramesh said, as quoted by ANI.
- An officer said that although the rally is allowed, Section 144 will remain imposed at the DDU Marg, where the offices of political parties are located, as reported by PTI. “We have made elaborate security arrangements so that the general public doesn’t face any inconvenience due to the rally,” a senior police officer said, as quoted by PTI.
- The traffic police will also remain deployed to regulate the traffic and parkings near the ground. About a dozen companies of paramilitary personnel will be deployed around the Ramlila Maidan and other parts of central Delhi, including DDU Marg, PTI reported, citing sources. The administration has allowed 20,000 people to come for the rally, but police expects it to exceed 30,000.
- According to a Delhi Police official, seven gates have been prepared for entry and exit at the Ramlila Maidan. “Among these seven, one is for VIPs and another for the media,” the official said, as quoted by PTI. Every visitor will be checked with door frame metal detectors and hand-held machines at the entry gates, he said.
- The Delhi Police has also installed CCTV cameras and set up a control room centre from where they could watch the activities at the Ramlila Maidan. The police said the organisers have made the seating arrangements for visitors. Officials said that the facilities for drinking water and washrooms will be provided at the ground.
- JKPDP President Mehbooba Mufti reached Delhi on Saturday to attend the rally. She was received by AAP leader and minister Imran Hussain at Delhi airport.
- Former Bihar Deputy CM and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav said “Tomorrow, a mega rally of the INDIA alliance is taking place in Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan. The way two sitting CMs have been arrested and leaders of the opposition are being targetted, it seems that PM Modi is scared of fighting elections… He does not want anyone to stand against him…When leaders are in opposition, actions are taken against them and when they join BJP they are given a clean chit,” as quoted by news agency ANI.