The rally will take place at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan, with the BJP-led central government being at the centre stage of the opposition attack.
The INDIA bloc leaders, the arc rivals of the BJP, have accused the ruling party of “misusing” the central agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against the opposition parties with political interest.
While the opposition prepares to take on the central government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP has scoffed off the opposition gathering as “Bhrashtachar Bachao Andolan”.
Earlier, Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri said that at the same place about 12-13 years ago, Arvind Kejriwal protested against the “corrupt” Congress government led by Manmohan Singh but now both (the AAP and Congress) are in alliance.
Hardeep Singh said that Arvind Kejriwal was against corruption and liquor and today he is involved in a liquor scam.
Big oppositionleaders to attend the rally
Key opposition leaders including Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, ex-party chief Rahul Gandhi, Bihar’s ex-deputy CM and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackery from Maharashtra and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav are excepted the attend the mega rally.
High security around Ramilila Maidan
The rally venue has high Delhi Police deployment with checking at every gate and deployment of paramilitary personnel in and around the venue. Police have allowed the rally to take place with certain conditions, including no march, no tractor-trollies, and no weapons in central Delhi, a senior officer said.
Although the rally is allowed, Section 144 will remain imposed at the DDU Marg, where the offices of political parties are located, an officer told news agency PTI. No march will be allowed from the Ramlila Maidan, he said, adding that strict action will be taken if any violations take place.
Hemant Soren’s wife meets Sunita Kejriwal
Former Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren’s wife Kalpana Soren met Sunita Kejriwal on Saturday and they expressed a mutual resolve to fight it out. The meeting lasted about 15-20 minutes. “Entire Jharkhand stands with Arvind Kejriwal,” Kalpana told reporters after the meeting.
The AAP has received the permission to hold the rally with more than 20,000 people. AAP Punjab state unit working president Budh Ram said, “We have set a target of 1.25 lakh people from Punjab to participate in the protest.”
‘Strong message to Lok Kalyan Marg’, says Congress
The Congress said the INDIA bloc rally will send a “strong message” to the Lok Kalyan Marg, where the prime minister’s residence is located, that the BJP-led government’s “time is up”.
Addressing a press conference on the rally, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said that it is the last chance to save the country’s constitution and democracy.
The Congress leader also claimed that “it is not a person-specific rally.” “That is why it is called Loktantra Bachao rally. This is not one party’s rally, about 27-28 parties are involved in it. All constituents of the INDIA ‘janbandhan’ will be taking part in the rally,” he said.
His remarks assume significance in view of AAP leaders pitching the rally as a protest specifically against the arrest of Kejriwal by the ED.