Delhi Police sets strict conditions for Congress rally at Ramlila Maidan on November 1: What organisers must follow

The Congress’s planned November 1 rally in Delhi has cleared a key administrative hurdle, but the party will have to navigate a detailed set of conditions before thousands of supporters gather at Ramlila Maidan. Delhi Police has issued a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the law-and-order perspective, while directing organisers to follow strict rules on security, speeches, traffic management and the dispersal of participants.

According to a letter from the Office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Central District, addressed to Congress leader Manish Chatrath, the rally is scheduled from 10 am to 5 pm on November 1. The venue has been booked for the party from October 25 to November 3, subject to the necessary clearances from the land-owning authority.

The rally forms part of the Congress-led Opposition’s campaign against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and concerns about voter deletions.

Congress rally rules: Why must the event end by 5 pm?

The police letter makes the rally’s closing time non-negotiable. Organisers have been instructed to begin dispersing participants after the event concludes at 5 pm, with no extension permitted. Overnight stays at Ramlila Maidan before or after the rally are also prohibited.

The conditions require organisers to install high-definition CCTV cameras at entry and exit gates, the stage, seating enclosures and other strategic locations. They must provide recording facilities, monitoring systems with at least five screens and a dedicated CCTV control room.

Adequate drinking water, toilet blocks with separate facilities for women, and identifiable volunteers must also be arranged. Organisers have been asked to share the list of invitees and volunteers, a minute-by-minute programme and the number and registration details of buses.

What has Delhi Police said about speeches and security?

The conditions place responsibility on organisers to maintain a peaceful gathering and prevent unruly or intimidating behaviour. Speakers have been cautioned against remarks concerning caste, creed or colour that could disturb public harmony.

If a speech is found to be instigating or intimidating, the public address system must be switched off immediately and the speaker removed from the stage, according to the letter. No march will be permitted from Ramlila Maidan towards any other location.

Vehicles, including buses, cars and tempos, must be parked at locations designated by the Traffic Unit. Organisers must also cooperate with police officers deployed for the event. The letter warns that permission may be revoked if its conditions or subsequent police instructions are not followed.

Why is the Congress protesting against CEC Gyanesh Kumar?

The rally comes amid a wider political confrontation over the SIR exercise, through which electoral rolls are being revised. The Congress and its INDIA bloc partners have raised concerns about eligible voters potentially being excluded and have demanded accountability from the Election Commission.

The Indian Express reported on October 18 that the November 1 rally was part of the Opposition’s broader campaign, which includes demonstrations and outreach to people whose names may have been removed from electoral rolls.

Congress general secretary K.C. Venugopal alleged on October 27 that police intervention had halted preparations at Ramlila Maidan over the weekend, despite the party having secured the venue for the October 25-November 3 period. He accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah of directing the intervention and alleged that the government was attempting to suppress protests. These are political allegations; the police had earlier publicly confirmed that it issued the NOC after discussions with the organisers and an assessment of security requirements.

What happens next before the November 1 rally?

Delhi Police has said it is coordinating with organisers, traffic police and other agencies to ensure law and order and manage traffic. The Congress, meanwhile, has said its agitation over the electoral roll revision and the Election Commission will continue.

With the rally date approaching, the immediate test will be whether organisers can meet the stipulated requirements while bringing together Opposition supporters for a protest focused on voter-list concerns. The police NOC allows the event to proceed from the law-and-order perspective, but compliance with the conditions, and the separate clearance required from the land-owning authority, remains central to its smooth conduct.

(With inputs from ANI)