INDIA bloc rally LIVE: Protesters begin arriving at Ramlila Maidan; Opposition march to begin at 12pm
INDIA bloc rally LIVE: A huge crowd was seen at the Ramlila Maidan in Delhi ahead of the INDIA bloc's ‘Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao’ rally. Early arrivals began from 5.30 am at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi, with cops and volunteers facilitating crowd management in and around the area, DCP Central Rohit Rajbir said. The Opposition will first hold a march from the Minto Road-Connaught Place junction, which will culminate at Ramlila Maidan, where a mega rally is scheduled.“We also have a plan in place for the route of the march, which is scheduled to take place in a few hours,” the DCP told news agency ANI, adding that proper arrangements had been made at venue.The protest comes a day after the Opposition's mock impeachment of CEC Gyanesh Kumar, held at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's residence.
Meanwhile, to target the Opposition over the date of their stir, the BJP will take out a protest march on Sunday in Hari Nagar area over the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. The march will be led by Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri, and will also be joined by various Sikh organisations news agency PTI reported.10,000 security personnel deployedNearly 10,000 police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed in central Delhi on Sunday.
DCP Central Rohit Rajbir said over 200 CCTV cameras were installed in the area, adding that police personnel have been deployed across the venue, and stationed in enclosures.The police earlier said they will facilitate the march, which Gandhi announced on his Instagram. However, while INDIA bloc is expecting “nearly one million people” to attend their rally from across the country, the police have planned for about 50,000, the capacity of the Ramlila Maidan.
Police have said any overflow would be held back on the surrounding streets.Traffic diversions across DelhiThe Delhi Traffic Police has issued an advisory on route diversions and restrictions in parts of Central Delhi. The restrictions will remain in place from 10 am to 5pm.The diversion points include:Netaji Subhash Marg T-PointRajghatDelhi GateITO A-PointAjmeri Gate Red LightRanjeet Singh Flyover at Barakhamba RoadBhavbhuti Marg–DDU Marg Red LightJhandewalan RoundaboutTurkman GateMirdard ChowkRahul Gandhi urges protesters to ‘march and shop’; support tradersCongress leader Rahul Gandhi has urged those participating in the INDIA bloc rally to support Delhi traders and make purchases for the festive season while attending the protest.“I want those lakhs of people coming to Delhi from outside to support the traders here.
Protest, march, hold rallies, and along with that, do a little shopping too - it will benefit the traders,” Rahul said in a post on XWhy the protests against CEC Gyanesh Kumar?While the Opposition has levelled allegations of “vote chori” and objected to the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in states several times in the past, a fresh row erupted against CEC Gyanesh Kumar after an Indian Express report last month.The report said Election Commissioners had objected to decisions made by the CEC 14 times over a 10-month period.
While the poll body maintained that all its decisions were unanimous, the report gave fresh momentum to the Opposition's allegations of “vote chori”, following which protests were called by student organisations, INDIA bloc parties and the Cockroach Janta Party.
