INDIA bloc along with Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is holding 'Loktantra Bachao' (Save Democracy) rally at Ramlila Maidan in the national capital today, to protest against the arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal.
Kejriwal was arrested by Enforcement Directorate on March 21 in the Delhi liquor policy scam and is in custody until April 1.
Opposition leaders Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Bhagwant Mann, Akhilesh Yadav, and Tejashwi Yadav, are in attendance at the rally among others.
This Loktantra Bachao Rally is perceived as a protest of solidarity and opposition unity. National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah will also be seen at the rally, as confirmed by party vice president Omar Abdullah. Additionally, Sunita Kejriwal, the wife of Delhi's chief minister, is also set to make an address at the rally where she will read out a message by her husband.
Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray, Akhilesh Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav are also set to attend the rally.
Senior AAP leader Gopal Rai, who conducted an inspection of the preparations at the Ramlila Maidan, said that Congress leader Sonia Gandhi is expected to participate in the rally.
During a press conference regarding the rally, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh announced on Saturday that party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and former party chief Rahul Gandhi, along with other senior leaders, will be addressing the gathering. “It is not a person-specific rally," he, however, added. “That is why it is called Loktantra Bachao rally. This is not one party's rally, about 27-28 parties are involved in it. All constituents of the INDIA 'janbandhan' will be taking part in the rally," he said.
The AAP has received permission from the authorities to hold the rally with more than 20,000 people.
AAP Punjab state unit working president Budh Ram said, “We have set a target of 1.25 lakh people from Punjab to participate in the protest."
Around twelve units of paramilitary forces are set to be stationed around the Ramlila Maidan and various sections of central Delhi, including DDU Marg, according to sources cited by PTI.
Furthermore, the authorities have granted permission for 20,000 individuals to attend the rally, although the police anticipate that the actual turnout may surpass 30,000.
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