Police aim to stop crowds from marching to Jantar Mantar and other restricted zones; a dedicated gate is set aside for evacuating leaders
New Delhi, October 28: Delhi Police are drawing up tight security arrangements for the Congress-led INDIA bloc’s rally at Ramlila Maidan on November 1. All approach roads will be barricaded and staffed to prevent participants from marching towards Jantar Mantar and other restricted areas, two police officers said.
A contingency plan is also being prepared to quickly evacuate senior leaders, including Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, in case of an emergency or disruption. One gate of the ground has been reserved for their safe exit, the officers said. Nearly 3,000 Delhi Police personnel will be deployed in and around the venue.
The rally is the culmination of the Opposition’s “Dilli Chalo” march against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Congress leaders have said they expect at least a million people to attend. The march follows a “public impeachment” of the CEC planned for October 30.
Ramlila Maidan is one of three venues police designated for protests after Jantar Mantar was de-notified this month. Jantar Mantar had been the centre of youth-led protests this year. Earlier, student agitations there over exam irregularities led to the resignation of then education minister Dharmendra Pradhan in July.
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