Delhi Traders Oppose INDIA Bloc's Ramlila Maidan Rally, Warn Of ₹2,000 Crore Loss

The INDIA bloc, supported by Congress, plans to hold a massive protest rally at Ramlila Maidan on November 1, in opposition to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Alleged irregularities in the State Imputation Register (SIR) of electoral rolls, as reported by The Indian Express, have sparked the demonstration, which is set to commence at 10 am and continue until 5 pm.

Rahul Gandhi, leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and a prominent Congress figure, has called upon citizens, including students and civil society groups, to participate in the rally. He described it as a movement to safeguard democracy and the Constitution. Multiple parties have shown their backing, and several Chief Ministers and opposition leaders are expected to join the event.

In preparation for the rally, participants are advised to wear white clothing, symbolizing "ghosts" representing voters who are allegedly marked as deceased or removed from the electoral rolls. Security measures will be stringent, with over 3,000 police officers and 10,000 paramilitary personnel on duty. Their primary objectives will be to ensure the safety of the crowd and prevent the protest from spreading beyond Ramlila Maidan.

The rally follows the public impeachment of Gyanesh Kumar, the Chief Election Commissioner, by the Opposition. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has stated that there is sufficient evidence to prove that Kumar should not continue in his role. He further warned that if the BJP insists on retaining Kumar, the Opposition's position will be evident to all.

The rally comes in the wake of widespread protests in the initial weeks of October, which eventually led to Jantar Mantar being removed from the list of permissible protest locations. The Delhi Police have now designated Ramlila Maidan as one of three agitation sites for the upcoming demonstration.