Ramlila Maidan Rally: 4,000 Police Deployed, BJP Plans Hari Nagar March

More than 4,000 Delhi Police and Central Armed Police Forces personnel will be posted across 14 zones for the INDIA bloc’s rally at Ramlila Maidan on Sunday, 1 November, according to National Herald’s report on the preparations. The rally, which runs from 10 am to 5 pm, will press for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The BJP has said it will hold its own march in Hari Nagar the same morning.

Crowd Estimates Differ by a Factor of Twenty

The INDIA bloc expects up to ten lakh people. Delhi Police estimate about 50,000, according to National Herald. Ramlila Maidan holds 45,000 to 50,000 when empty, and 30,000 to 40,000 once chairs and barricades are in, so space outside the ground has been kept for spillover. Overnight stays are not allowed.

The ground has a tricolour tent over the main stage and a second stage for state unit representatives. Security includes more than 200 CCTV cameras, drones and body-worn cameras. Kharge’s residence is the starting point for the open-bus journey of INDIA bloc leaders to the venue, the report said.

Also read NSUI Workers Detained During Delhi March Seeking CEC’s Resignation

BJP March at 11 am in Hari Nagar

The BJP will take out a march of about 5,000 people at 11 am in Hari Nagar, led by Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, India TV reported. Victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and their families are to join. The report did not say whether Delhi Police have granted permission for the BJP march. Union Minister Chirag Paswan said the Congress-led rally had received permission from the government and administration.

The Noon March Has No Application on File

The opposition’s “Chalo Dilli” march is to start at noon from the Minto Road-Connaught Place junction. National Herald reported that Delhi Police had not received an application for it. The INDIA bloc has not publicly responded to that point. Traffic curbs from 10 am to 5 pm, and the roads to avoid, are in our route and timings report.

What to Watch on Sunday

The opposition has already petitioned the President and the Supreme Court on the SIR. The charges it laid against the CEC at the mock Parliament are set out in The Six Charges Against CEC Gyanesh Kumar. IPB will report the speeches, the turnout and any resolution as they happen. More coverage is in Daily Updates.

Source: Based on reporting by National Herald and India TV. No official Delhi Police release was found.

Image: National Herald.