New Delhi: Delhi Police has allowed the Congress to hold its rally at Ramlila Maidan on November 1 from the law and order perspective, but the party will have to follow several conditions. The rally must wrap up by 5 pm, overnight stays at the venue are not allowed, and organisers have been asked to make proper arrangements for security and crowd management.
The rally is scheduled to run from 10 am to 5 pm. In a letter, the Office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Central District, informed Manish Chatrath, who is in charge of the Congress party headquarters and a permanent invitee to the Congress Working Committee, that the party’s request to book Ramlila Maidan from October 25 to November 3 had been considered. The police clearance is subject to prior approval from the land-owning authority.
Police Set Conditions for Security and Crowd Management
Delhi Police has asked the organisers to install high-definition CCTV cameras at important points across the venue, including entry and exit gates, the stage, seating areas and surrounding locations. A dedicated control room, recording facilities and a monitoring system with at least five screens must also be in place.
The organisers will have to arrange enough water tankers and toilet blocks, with separate facilities for women. Volunteers must also be deployed in sufficient numbers and wear similar clothing or common badges so they can be easily identified during the rally.
The police have made it clear that the event cannot continue beyond 5 pm. Participants must start leaving the venue after the rally ends, and no one will be allowed to stay overnight at Ramlila Maidan before or after the event.
Buses, cars, tempos and other vehicles must be parked at locations designated by the Traffic Unit.
No March Outside Ramlila Maidan, Warning Over Speeches
The rally must remain peaceful, and the organisers have been told not to allow unruly, rowdy or radical behaviour. They must cooperate with police personnel and follow directions issued by the Assistant Commissioner of Police, the Station House Officer of Kamla Market and other senior officers deployed on duty.
Police have also warned organisers to ensure that speakers do not make remarks about caste, creed or colour that could disturb public harmony. If anyone delivers an instigating or intimidating speech, the public address system must be switched off immediately and the speaker removed from the stage.
The letter also makes it clear that no march will be permitted towards any place other than Ramlila Maidan.
Organisers must submit a list of invitees and volunteers, a minute-to-minute schedule of the rally and details of the buses being used, including their registration numbers. Police have warned that the permission can be withdrawn at any time if the conditions or other official instructions are not followed.
Congress Alleges Police Halted Preparations
Earlier on Tuesday, Congress General Secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal alleged that Delhi Police had stopped preparations for the party’s planned protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The protest is linked to alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and concerns over the deletion of voters’ names.
Venugopal alleged that the police action had been directed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. He said the Congress had secured permission to use Ramlila Maidan from October 25 to November 3, but police personnel stopped infrastructure work over the weekend.
He accused the government of trying to silence democratic protests against the removal of genuine voters from electoral rolls.
Venugopal said the INDIA bloc would continue its agitation until Gyanesh Kumar was removed as Chief Election Commissioner and the electoral system was “purified”.
The protests have also led to police action, with more than 100 demonstrators detained amid heightened security in Central Delhi. Congress and its allies have said they will continue their agitation until accountability is established within the Election Commission of India.