Congress Anti-SIR Protest: Delhi Police has not yet approved the Congress's proposed symbolic "Jan-Mahabhiyog" programme against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, with the request still under consideration. However, the Delhi Police on Tuesday said that the approval for the Ramlila Maidan rally has been granted. According to Delhi Police sources, cited by ANI, there is no change in the earlier approval given to the rally at Ramlila Maidan.
"Delhi Police has not withdrawn permission for the Congress rally at Ramlila Maidan. There is no change in the permission that was earlier granted,” Delhi Police sources said.
Permission For Ashoka Hotel Mock Parliament Still Awaited
Congress had earlier sought permission to hold the Jan-Mahabhiyog until November 3, including an event at Ashoka Hotel on October 30 followed by a Dilli Chalo march and a rally at Ramlila Maidan on November 1. Meanwhile, permission for the Ashoka Hotel event remains pending. Police sources said that the permission for the Ashoka Hotel Mock Parliament depends on the hotel authorities, as it is private property.
"With Respect to the Ashoka Hotel Mock parliament, Delhi Police says it depends on the hotel since it's their private premises," the sources said, as cited by ANI.
NOC Issued for Ramlila Maidan from Oct 25 till Nov 3
Congress has got the No Objection Certificate from Delhi Police to hold its programme at Ramlila Maidan from 25 October to 3 November. DCP (Central) Rohit Rajbir Singh said the party first got a venue availability certificate from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and then approached the police. Since MCD owns the ground, they will confirm the booking only after the police clearance comes through.
For the uninitiated, Ramlila Maidan is one of the three official protest sites in Delhi, along with Burari Ground and CBD Ground in East Delhi, after Jantar Mantar was officially denotified as a protest venue.