Delhi Police denies withdrawing permission for INDIA bloc’s Nov 1 rally at Ramlila Maidan

Delhi Police on Tuesday clarified that it has not withdrawn permission for the INDIA bloc’s November 1 rally at Ramlila Maidan, amid allegations by the Congress that authorities were stalling its programme against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Delhi Police said an NOC has been granted from the law-and-order perspective, and it is preparing to deploy around 3,500 personnel and use more than 200 CCTV cameras for security at the designated protest site.

The clarification comes amid allegations by the Congress that authorities were stalling its programme against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Police have divided the venue into 14 zones for crowd management, called in 10 companies of reserve forces and planned surveillance through CCTV cameras, body-worn cameras and surveillance-equipped vehicles.

According to an official communication addressed to Congress leader Manish Chatrath, in-charge of the party headquarters, the NOC was granted subject to prior permission from the land-owning authority and compliance with specified conditions.

The letter, dated October 17, pertains to the Congress’s request to book Ramlila Maidan from October 25 to November 3 for the rally scheduled on November 1 between 10 am and 5 pm.

The conditions include installing high-definition CCTV cameras at strategic points, setting up a control room with monitoring screens, deploying adequate volunteers, arranging drinking water and separate toilet facilities for women, and ensuring that the gathering concludes by 5 pm, followed by dispersal of participants. No overnight stay at the venue will be permitted, the letter stated.

The organisers have also been asked to ensure that vehicles are parked at locations designated by the traffic police, prevent unruly behaviour and speeches that could disturb communal harmony, and provide the police with a list of invitees and volunteers, a minute-to-minute programme and details of buses, including their registration numbers. Any violation of the conditions could lead to legal action or revocation of permission, it said.

A senior police officer said each of the 14 zones would be overseen by an Assistant Commissioner of Police-rank officer, while two zones would be monitored by officers of Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police rank.

Police have been coordinating with rally organisers, the traffic police and other agencies to ensure law and order, traffic management and the smooth conduct of the event.

The November 1 rally is part of the opposition’s campaign against alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The Congress and other opposition parties have accused Kumar of presiding over a flawed electoral process and demanded his resignation.