INDIA Bloc Cleared to Hold Rally at Ramlila Maidan, Delhi Police Rejects March from Connaught Place

Delhi Police Clears INDIA Bloc Rally at Ramlila Maidan, Says No Nod for Proposed March from Connaught Place

The Delhi Police has approved the INDIA bloc’s ‘Chalo Dilli’ rally scheduled at Ramlila Maidan on November 1 but has not granted permission for the opposition’s proposed march from Connaught Place to the venue.

Police officials clarified on Saturday that while the rally had received clearance, no formal request had been submitted for the procession from the Connaught Place-Minto Road junction to Ramlila Maidan.

The clarification came after Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi announced the march during an ‘Ask Me Anything’ session on Instagram on Friday. Gandhi said participants would begin their march at noon from the Minto Road-Connaught Place junction and proceed to Ramlila Maidan. He also appealed to people to join the programme.

According to police officials, neither the New Delhi district police nor the Central district police had been informed about the proposed march. “No permission has been sought and neither the New Delhi district police nor the Central district police have been informed about the march,” the officials said.

They did not specify whether police personnel would intervene if opposition leaders and supporters attempted to carry out the march without the necessary approval. The INDIA bloc’s rally is aimed at demanding the withdrawal of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

CTI appeals for postponement, cites festive business concerns
Separately, the Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) has urged INDIA bloc leaders to reschedule the November 1 rally, warning that the event could affect traders during the crucial festive shopping period.

In a letter sent on Saturday, the organisation requested opposition leaders to hold the rally after Diwali, preferably after November 10-11, to avoid disruption to business during Diwali and Dhanteras.

The CTI, a prominent Delhi-based body representing traders and entrepreneurs, addressed its appeal to several INDIA bloc leaders, including Akhilesh Yadav, Mamata Banerjee, Tejashwi Yadav and Uddhav Thackeray.

The organisation expressed concern that the gathering could lead to traffic restrictions and affect commercial activity at a time when markets typically see increased customer footfall.

Rahul Gandhi says rally will go ahead as planned
Rahul Gandhi had reiterated on Friday that the mega rally at Ramlila Maidan would be held as scheduled. He called on political parties, civil society organisations, social workers, journalists and members of the public to participate.

“All the opposition, everybody who wants to come: political, non-political, social, service people, civil society people, journalists. Both the programs are about the demolition of Indian democracy by Narendra Modi, by Amit Shah, by Gyanesh Kumar and his crew in the Election Commission,” Gandhi said during a press briefing.

He also accused Union Home Minister Amit Shah of trying to prevent people from travelling to Delhi to attend the rally.

Gandhi alleged that party workers and ordinary citizens coming from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Telangana and Punjab were being stopped from entering the national capital.

“The Home Minister is trying his best to stop people from coming into Delhi, trying to ensure that our party members, common people who want to come from UP, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Telangana, Punjab, are being stopped. And they’re trying their best…” he said.