Nine months after the INDIA alliance began taking shape and in the backdrop of the arrest of two Chief Ministers – Hemant Soren and Arvind Kejriwal, the historic Ramlila Maidan will witness on Sunday top leaders from Opposition bloc congregating there, in a show of strength.

The Congress on Saturday underscored the core objective of the “Loktantra Bachao Rally (Save Democracy Rally)” as centered around safeguarding the Constitution and democracy itself, rather than any single leader.

“The rally is not person-centric. This is not for protecting any one person. This is for protecting the democracy and Constitution. This is not the rally of any one party. Over 28 parties are involved in it. All the parties of the INDIA alliance are involved. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) is also included,” Congress communications chief Jairam Ramesh told reporters at the party headquarters in Delhi.

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He further added that the agenda of the rally would be inflation, unemployment, economic disparity, and polarisation.

“We should not forget Hemant Soren ji. Hemant Soren was the first CM who was arrested (he resigned before being arrested) when the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra was about to enter Jharkhand. Hemant Soren, Kejriwal ji, several ministers and leaders of different states including Delhi, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu are being targeted,” Ramesh said.

Among those who are expected to participate in the rally are Jharkhand CM Champai Soren, Hemant Soren’s wife Kalpana, NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) chief Sharad Pawar, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, CPI general secretary D Raja, National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, SP president Akhilesh Yadav, DMK’s Tiruchi Siva, and TMC’s Derek O’Brien.

Meanwhile, in view of the rally, the Delhi Police and paramilitary forces have bolstered security measures in central Delhi.

Delhi Police security arrangements

The Delhi Police has granted permission for the rally under specific conditions, including the prohibition of marches, tractor trollies, and weapons. Despite approval for the rally, prohibitory orders will remain enforced at DDU Marg, where political party offices are situated, according to an official, reports PTI. Any violation of these orders will result in strict action, he added.

The administration has allowed 20,000 people to come for the rally, but police expects the number to exceed 30,000.

“We have implemented extensive security arrangements to ensure minimal inconvenience to the general public during the rally,” remarked a senior police officer. Additionally, traffic police have been deployed to manage traffic flow and parking near the venue.

To streamline entry and exit, seven gates have been designated at the venue, with one reserved for VIPs and another for media personnel

Strict security measures, including door frame metal detector checks and hand-held device screenings, will be conducted for every visitor at the entry points, and officer said. Furthermore, the Delhi Police has installed CCTV cameras and established a control room to monitor activities at Ramlila Maidan closely.