AAP mega rally today at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan against Centre’s ordinance, security beefed up
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New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will hold a mega rally at central Delhi’s historic Ramlila Maidan on Sunday in the party’s first major public show of strength against the Centre's ordinance on control of services in the national capital.
Enhanced security measures have been put in place at and around Ramlila Maidan. The rally is scheduled to start at 10 am, and CM Kejriwal is likely to address the event around 12 noon.
Nearly one lakh people from Delhi are expected to attend the event which will be attended by AAP national convener and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann, party MPs and MLAs and other top leaders of the party.
Delhi Traffic Police hence have been directed to regulate vehicular movement during the program. Fire tenders and ambulances will also be deployed there, police said.
A party leader said that all MLAs and councillors of the party have been told to mobilise participants for the rally from their respective constituencies.
Around 12 companies of paramilitary forces will be deployed along with the local police and senior officials from the district. CCTV surveillance will also be made, said a senior police officer. Metal detectors will be installed at the entry gates of the ground.
On Friday, the convener of AAP’s Delhi unit Gopal Rai met party bearers to discuss the rally preparations. Rai said the party has held several meetings at the grassroots levels, including door-to-door campaigns in the city to make people aware of the ordinance and how it affects their lives, and urged them to participate in the rally.
The ordinance issued by the Centre on May 19 set up a National Capital Civil Service Authority, bringing back executive control over matters related to services to its domain.
It was issued close on the heels of a Supreme Court verdict on May 11, through which the Delhi government was given the executive control over service-related matters, including transfers and postings of Delhi government officers but excluding those related to police, public order and land.
With inputs from PTI
