The Congress had sought permission to organise a rally at Ramlila Maidan on November 1. Delhi Police not only approved the event but also issued a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) for the proposed gathering.
Providing details of the decision, Rohit Rajbir Singh, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central), said, "The Indian National Congress (INC) has planned to hold a rally at Ramlila Maidan on November 1 and had sought the necessary NOC from Delhi Police. We have subsequently issued an NOC for holding the rally at the designated protest site for the period from October 25 to November 3."
Delhi Police said it was coordinating continuously with the organisers, traffic police and other concerned agencies to maintain law and order, manage traffic effectively and ensure the smooth conduct of the proposed rally.
While the Congress has received permission for its November 1 event, the police had earlier refused to allow the CJP to organise any event at Jantar Mantar on October 10 and at Connaught Place on October 16.
Strategy Finalised at INDIA Alliance Meeting
On September 30, opposition parties belonging to the INDIA alliance held a meeting and finalised a joint action plan amid the ongoing controversy surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The parties agreed to organise rallies against the central government over alleged electoral irregularities and to take out a 'Save Democracy March'.
Following the meeting, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said that all the parties had agreed that elections should be conducted using ballot papers instead of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). Kharge also announced that the Congress would organise a major rally in Delhi on November 1.
The proposed rally forms part of the opposition's broader plan to raise concerns over the electoral process and alleged irregularities in elections.
SIR Controversy Intensified After Newspaper Report
The INDIA alliance meeting last month took place a few days after a report published by The Indian Express brought the SIR issue into sharper focus.
According to the report, Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had formally raised objections with Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar at least 14 times over the previous 10 months regarding decisions and orders related to the SIR process. They reportedly maintained that the decisions had been taken without their knowledge or recommendations.
The Congress rally at Ramlila Maidan on November 1 is part of the opposition alliance's planned campaign amid the continuing dispute over electoral roll revisions and alleged electoral irregularities. The police clearance establishes the arrangements for the proposed gathering, with Delhi Police coordinating with the organisers and relevant agencies for its conduct.
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