'Let's walk together': Rahul invites people to march ahead of INDIA bloc rally

NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi on Saturday invited people to join a march in the national capital on Sunday before reaching Ramlila Maidan, where the INDIA bloc is scheduled to hold a mega rally on November 1.

However, Delhi Police sources told news agency ANI that no permission had been sought for the proposed march from Connaught Place.

In a post on X, Rahul shared the route and schedule of the march, saying, "See you tomorrow, let's walk together."

According to his post, the march will begin at the Minto Road junction near Connaught Place at noon on Sunday. Participants will proceed towards Ajmeri Gate before concluding at Ramlila Maidan.

Responding to Rahul's announcement, Delhi Police sources told ANI that no application had been received seeking permission for a march from Connaught Place.

They added that MPs and political leaders were free to travel in their private vehicles to the Constitution Club, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's residence or any other location of their choice.

The sources also pointed out that Jantar Mantar, traditionally a designated venue for protests in the capital, has been de-notified as a protest site.

They said Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which restricts assemblies and gatherings, is currently in force across the New Delhi area, including the vicinity of the Election Commission.

Police said elaborate security arrangements would be made at Ramlila Maidan for Sunday's rally. Personnel from multiple Delhi Police districts, including the Central District, will be deployed along with paramilitary forces.

Meanwhile, INDIA bloc leaders are scheduled to hold a public programme on the proposed impeachment of chief election commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar on Saturday at 3.30 pm at 10, Rajaji Marg, the residence of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. The programme was postponed from Friday due to rain in the national capital.

Announcing the decision, Gandhi said the leaders had agreed to reschedule it to avoid inconvenience to senior members.

Speaking to reporters in Delhi on Friday, Rahul said, "By consensus, we have decided to postpone today's program (public impeachment programme against CEC) to tomorrow at the same time because of rain. We felt that it would be uncomfortable for seniors to sit in the rain, and we will hold the same program tomorrow."

He also urged political parties, civil society members, journalists and other citizens to join the INDIA bloc's November 1 march to Ramlila Maidan.

"The day after, we have a march to Ramlila Maidan. All the opposition, everybody who wants to come: political, non-political, social, service people, civil society people, journalists. Both the programs are about the demolition of Indian democracy by Narendra Modi, by Amit Shah, by Gyanesh Kumar and his crew in the Election Commission," he said.

Raebareli MP further alleged that Union home minister Amit Shah was trying to prevent people from travelling to Delhi to attend the rally.

"The home minister is trying his best to stop people from coming into Delhi, trying to ensure that our party members, common people who want to come from UP, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Telangana, Punjab, are being stopped. And they're trying their best," former Congress chief said.