With days remaining for the Lok Sabha elections, the opposition's Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance's (INDIA) bloc will hold the mega "Loktantra Bachao" (save democracy) rally at Ramlila Maidan on Sunday. The event promises to be the first joint outing of all the constituent parties ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. The other two rallies of the opposition bloc, held in Patna and in Mumbai, did not have the participation of all the member parties.
The rally, titled 'Loktantra Bachao Rally', has the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal by the Enforcement Directorate and the action taken by the Income Tax Department against the Congress as its backdrop.
Amongst the leaders who will be present in the rally are Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury, CPI leader D Raja, National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, Deepankar Bhattacharya of the CPI(ML), DMK leader Tiruchi Shiva and Trinamool Congress' Derek O'Brien. Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi might attend the rally.
The opposition parties hope that the rally sets the tone for their campaign for the Lok Sabha polls. The issues they are expected to raise at the event include inflation, unemployment, farmers' distress and also focus on the BJP-ruled Centre allegedly targeting opposition parties and their leaders through misuse of investigating agencies. The arrest of Kejriwal and earlier of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren is expected to be a major talking point in tomorrow's event.
The IT notices sent to the Congress, with claims of more than Rs 1800 crore, have been described by the party as amounting to tax terrorism and a move that will cripple the party's campaign in the Lok Sabha elections.
In this backdrop, the opposition parties are expected to raise the issue of the alleged lack of a level playing field in the elections. Here, they are likely to highlight the revelations that have been made with regard to the now-scrapped electoral bonds scheme.
Another issue that the opposition parties seek to focus on is the alleged intent of the BJP-RSS to change the Constitution.
Most importantly, the opposition parties hope the rally sends a message of solidarity and unity of purpose to the people.
The rally is also expected to be the first test of synergy between the workers of the Congress and the AAP in Delhi, where the two parties have entered into a seat-sharing arrangement for the Lok Sabha elections. The responsibility of ensuring a good turnout for the rally has been shared by the two parties.
However, while the AAP would want the focus of the rally to be on the arrest of Kejriwal, the Congress differs from that view and does not want the event to be centred on any one person. "Tomorrow's rally is not a person-centric rally or a rally of one party. As many as 28 parties are coming together for the rally to send the message about the need to save the Constitution, to save democracy," said Jairam Ramesh, AICC General Secretary in charge of Communications.
He further said: "We should not forget Hemant Soren. He was arrested when the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra was about to enter Jharkhand."
According to AAP's Delhi convenor Gopal Rai, the rally is poised to unite prominent leaders in a collective outcry against the central government's autocratic tendencies and the arbitrary arrests of key opposition leaders.
"All prominent leaders of the INDIA alliance will be participating in the mega rally. This rally is against the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal and to save the country's democracy. The arrest of Arvind Kejriwal is the murder of democracy, and this murder of democracy is being done in a dictatorial manner," Rai said.
Tight security
The Ramlila Maidan has been spruced up for the rally. Senior AAP leader Gopal Rai had visited the ground to inspect the preparations.
The authorities have permitted to hold the rally with more than 20,000 people. "We have set a target of 1.25 lakh people from Punjab to participate in the protest," AAP Punjab state unit working president Budh Ram told reporters.
The Delhi Police said they have made elaborate arrangements with checking at every gate and deployment of paramilitary personnel in and around the venue. The administration has allowed 20,000 people to come for the rally, but police expect it to exceed 30,000.
There is a ban on marches, tractor-trollies, and weapons in central Delhi.
"However, Section 144 will remain imposed at the DDU Marg, where the offices of political parties are located," an officer told PTI. "No march will be allowed from the Ramlila Maidan," he said warning strict action against violators.
Traffic advisory
According to the traffic advisory, movement will be regulated and may be restricted on the Ranjeet Singh Flyover from Barakhamba Road to Guru Nanak Chowk, Vivekanand Marg from Minto Road to roundabout Kamla Market, Hamdard Chowk, JLN Marg from Delhi Gate to Guru Nanak Chowk and Ajmeri Gate, roundabout Kamla Market to Guru Nanak Chowk and Chaman Lal Marg near VIP Gate, Guru Nanak Chowk to Turkman Gate from 9 am to 3 pm.
Traffic diversion may be imposed on Rajghat Chowk, Minto Road, DDU Marg, Mirdard Chowk, Paharganj Chowk, A-Point, and Delhi Gate from 9 am onwards, it stated, adding that regulations and diversion will be reviewed according to the requirement and update will be issued accordingly.
(With PTI inputs)