Delhi Police allow Congress rally at Ramlila Maidan on November 1 with conditions

The Congress is set to take to the streets once again, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The party will hold a large protest at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi on November 1. Delhi Police have now permitted the rally subject to certain conditions.

The rally will run from 10 am to 5 pm. The police have set several conditions for the organisers on security, CCTV, traffic and speeches. The Congress has called the agitation against alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

According to the police letter, the organisers must end the rally by 5 pm. After that, no one will be allowed to stay on the grounds or remain there overnight. The organisers must also obtain prior approval from the authority that owns the ground before using it.

For security, high-definition CCTV cameras must be installed at the entry gates, exit routes, the stage and the seating area. The organisers must provide recording facilities, set up a monitoring system with at least five screens and create a separate control room.

To ensure the event passes off peacefully, the organisers have been asked to make sure volunteers are clearly identifiable. Arrangements for drinking water, toilets and separate facilities for women must also be made. Vehicles must be parked only at the places designated by the traffic police.

On speeches, the police have said there must be no remarks on the basis of caste, creed or colour that could disturb communal harmony. If any speaker makes an inflammatory or threatening speech, the organisers will be responsible for having the loudspeaker switched off and the speaker taken off the stage. The permission can also be cancelled if the police conditions are not met.

Congress general secretary K C Venugopal had earlier alleged that the police were interfering in the preparations for the rally. The party has been criticising the Election Commission over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and the deletion of voters' names.

With the rally now permitted, political circles are watching the Congress agitation closely. The challenge before the organisers will be to complete the gathering peacefully while following all the police conditions.