New Delhi, October 31: Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has invited people to join a march in the national capital ahead of the INDIA bloc’s rally scheduled at Ramlila Maidan on November 1.
In a social media post on Saturday, Gandhi said, “See you tomorrow, let’s walk together.” He announced that the march would begin at noon on Sunday from the Minto Road junction near Connaught Place, proceed through Ajmeri Gate and culminate at Ramlila Maidan.
The INDIA bloc is scheduled to hold a major rally at Ramlila Maidan following the march. The protest centres on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and the Opposition’s demand for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Opposition parties have alleged irregularities in the SIR exercise, claiming that eligible voters’ names have been removed from electoral rolls. They have also raised concerns about transparency in the electoral process.
Gandhi has invited political parties, civil society representatives, journalists and other interested citizens to participate in the march.
Questions over police permission
Meanwhile, a report citing Delhi Police sources said that no application had been submitted seeking permission for the proposed march from Connaught Place. Police sources also pointed out that restrictions on gatherings under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita were in force in the New Delhi area.
Police sources said security arrangements would be made at Ramlila Maidan for the INDIA bloc rally.
The Opposition bloc’s planned ‘Public Impeachment’ programme against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, originally scheduled for October 30, was postponed to October 31 due to rain. The march and rally are scheduled for November 1.
