Politics

Delhi Police Grants No Objection to Congress Rally at Ramlila Ground on Nov. 1

By HT News Desk

The Delhi Police on Tuesday confirmed that it has no objection to the Congress organising a rally at Ramlila Ground on November 1 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The clarification follows a claim by the Congress that it had been denied permission to hold an event where the INDIA bloc parties planned a protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar ahead of their November 1 rally in Delhi.

In a statement, the police said: "With reference to your letter No. Nil dated 05.10.2026, on the subject cited above, I have been directed to inform you that your request regarding booking NOC for booking of Ramlila Ground from 25.10.2026 to 03.11.2026 to organize rally on 01.11.2026 from 10 AM TO 05 PM has been considered and we have no objection for the same from law & order point of view on the below mentioned terms & conditions subject to obtaining prior permission from the land owning authority."

The conditions listed by the police include: - Abiding by all laws and regulations governing such assemblies. - Taking all necessary measures to keep the assembled people under control and prevent any acts of violence or disruption of public order. - Ensuring the rally concludes at 5 p.m. on November 1. - Prohibiting overnight stay of participants at Ramlila Maidan either before or after the rally. - Ensuring the rally is peaceful and that no unruly, rowdy, or radical behaviour is allowed. - Cooperating fully with the police department. - Acknowledging that any breach of this undertaking may result in legal action against the organiser. - Ensuring no march is carried out to any place other than Ramlila Ground.

Congress leader K.C. Venugopal, in an X post on Tuesday, claimed that the Ashok Hotel initially allowed the event but later denied permission. He said 21 parties of the INDIA bloc had planned a “public impeachment of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar” as a curtain‑raiser on October 30 for the November 1 rally at Ramlila Maidan on a “vote chori” charge. Venugopal added that the organisers would not rest until the CEC was removed and threatened to stage a massive dharna at the homes of Amit Shah and Prime Minister Modi if the rally was stopped.

The planned rally is part of protests by the Congress and other opposition parties demanding the resignation of CEC Kumar over Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and alleged electoral irregularities.