‘Loktantra Bachao’ (Save Democracy) rally is held at Ramlila Maidan (File)
New Delhi:
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will hold a mega rally in Delhi today to protest the arrest of its national president and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
The ‘Loktantra Bachao’ (Save Democracy) rally is being held at Ramlila Maidan and is being seen by the INDIA bloc as a show of strength and unity ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
Some of the senior leaders present include Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, senior party leader Rahul Gandhi, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) supremo Sharad Pawar, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav, Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti and Trinamool Congress’ Derek O’Brien.
Here are the live updates from AAP’s mega rally in Delhi:
Get WhatsNew2Day updatesEnable notifications receive alerts as this story develops.
Ahead of AAP’s mega rally today, Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said there is anger among people against the arrest of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
“People did not like that a prime minister was jailed,” he told news agency ANI.
#WATCH | Delhi: Speaking at the INDIA Bloc meeting at Ramlila Maidan today, AAP Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said, “We took to the streets of Delhi and we saw that there is anger among the people against the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal. People did not like the fact that there was a CM. put in prison. At the Ramlila… pic.twitter.com/l9yTEQ7oQY
-ANI (@ANI) March 31, 2024
He also said the AAP meeting, which will be attended by the INDIA bloc members, will be a “huge challenge” for the BJP.
The Delhi Police is on alert and has made elaborate arrangements with checks at every gate and deployment of paramilitary personnel in and around the Ramlila Maidan for the mega rally of the AAP-led INDIA bloc.
The Delhi Police allowed the rally to take place under certain conditions, including no march, no tractor carts and no weapons in central Delhi.
#WATCH | Delhi: Preparations are underway at Ramlila Maidan for an INDIA bloc ‘mahar rally’ to protest the arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. pic.twitter.com/AukApBQnsl
-ANI (@ANI) March 31, 2024
The government has allowed 20,000 people to attend the rally, but police expect more than 30,000.
The AAP claims that the gathering can reach a maximum of one lakh, which is the entire capacity of Ramlila Maidan.
Seven gates have been prepared for entry and exit at the Ramlila Maidan, and every visitor will be checked at the entry gates with metal detectors in the door frames and handheld machines.
As per the traffic advisory issued by Delhi Police, movement will be regulated and possibly restricted on Ranjeet Singh Flyover from Barakhamba Road to Guru Nanak Chowk, Vivekanand Marg from Minto Road to Kamla Market roundabout, Hamdard Chowk, JLN Marg from Delhi Gate to Guru Nanak Chowk and Ajmeri Gate, Kamla Market Roundabout to Guru Nanak Chowk and Chaman Lal Marg at VIP Gate, Guru Nanak Chowk to Turkman Gate from 9am to 3pm.
Traffic diversion may also be imposed at Rajghat Chowk, Minto Road, DDU Marg, Mirdard Chowk, Paharganj Chowk, A-Point and Delhi Gate from 9am.
Traffic advice
In view of a political rally in Ramlila Maidan on March 31, 2024, traffic will be affected.
Please follow the traffic advice. #DPTrafficAdvicepic.twitter.com/UBozpP2wVA
– Delhi Traffic Police (@dtptraffic) March 30, 2024
People heading towards ISBT, railway station or airport are advised to plan their journey with enough time.
Several senior INDIA bloc leaders will attend the meeting being held days after Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case.
Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and former party president Rahul Gandhi will attend the ‘loktantra bachao’ rally. Former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi may also participate in the meeting.
Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav, Rashtriya Janata Dal’s Tejashwi Yadav, Nationalist Congress Party president Sharadchandra Pawar and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray will also attend the mega rally.
#WATCH | Delhi: INDIA alliance will hold a rally against the arrest of Delhi CM and AAP President Arvind Kejriwal today from 11 am at Ramlila Maidan
(Images from the Ramlila Maidan) pic.twitter.com/D7MsbGaETy
-ANI (@ANI) March 31, 2024
Other prominent political leaders and members of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) such as Trinamool Congress’s Derek O’Brien, National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren of JMM, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, CPI general secretary D Raja, and DMK’s Tiruchi Siva will also attend the meeting.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, his ministers and AAP MLAs will also participate in the meeting.
Kalpana Soren, wife of former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, who is currently in jail, will also attend the meeting. Ms Soren met Mr Kejriwal’s wife Sunita Kejriwal at the Delhi Chief Minister’s residence at 6 Flagstaff Road on Saturday.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will hold a mega rally in Delhi today to protest the arrest of its national president and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
The ‘Loktantra Bachao’ (Save Democracy) rally is held at Ramlila Maidan.