Cadres of the INDIA bloc are converging in large numbers on Ramlila Maidan in Delhi for the alliance’s rally, with a large number of workers already at the venue. Security forces and police have been put on alert.
Nearly 10,000 personnel, including the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), the CRPF and the Rapid Action Force (RAF), have been deployed across the national capital, with more than 4,000 stationed around the Maidan alone. Multi-tier barricades have been erected at Connaught Place, Jantar Mantar, the Supreme Court and the Election Commission offices. Hundreds of CCTV cameras, AI-based facial recognition systems and drones are being used to prevent unauthorised gatherings and deployments. Separately, SFI leaders have already set out in a march towards the Maidan to join the protest.
Thousands of Congress workers and INDIA bloc supporters have gathered at the residence of party president Mallikarjun Kharge. Rahul Gandhi, Kharge, former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, Tejashwi Yadav and several other opposition leaders are expected to launch the rally. Delhi Police have imposed traffic restrictions in several parts of the city and advised commuters to plan their travel accordingly.
Meanwhile, the Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) has said that around 2.5 lakh shops in markets within a 5-km radius of Ramlila Maidan are likely to remain closed because of the rally. The body said the major trading hubs in the affected area house about 3 lakh shops, of which roughly 80 percent may shut. It noted that daily business in the area during the festival season runs to Rs 10,000-12,000 crore and expressed concern over heavy losses to traders.
Following appeals from trade associations, Rahul Gandhi on Saturday urged the public to go shopping after taking part in the protest.