INDIA Bloc Plans Delhi Rally Amid March Permission Questions

The INDIA bloc planned a rally at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan on November 1 to protest alleged electoral-roll irregularities and demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, while police prepared security for the gathering. The sources describe preparations and plans, but do not establish whether the rally or a proposed march took place. Rahul Gandhi announced that participants would march from the Minto Road junction near Connaught Place, via Ajmeri Gate, to Ramlila Maidan, with a noon start. Delhi Police sources said they had received no application seeking permission for the street march. Police permission for the rally at the venue did not cover the proposed procession. Delhi Police said the rally was permitted from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and that organizers were responsible for crowd management and other arrangements during that period. Police estimated the ground could accommodate 30,000 to 40,000 people with chairs, enclosures and passageways, compared with a stated capacity of 45,000 to 50,000 when empty. The rally was expected to draw about 50,000 people, according to the security account. More than 4,000 police personnel were deployed in the city, with...