Elaborate security arrangements have been made for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rally on Sunday at Delhi's iconic Ramlila Maidan, which is a little over a kilometre away from Old Delhi's Daryaganj that was hit by violence on Friday during the protest against the amended Citizenship Act.
The prime minister is scheduled to address the mega rally around 11.30 am. PM Modi is expected to bring up the CAA issue in his speech, given the widespread protests against the amended Citizenship Act across the capital and the country.
Sources in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) claimed that an estimated two lakh attendees from across north India are coming to the event aboard 3,000 buses.
According to sources, senior officials remained in huddle till 5 am on Saturday to discuss the security arrangements. In the meeting, among other things, it was decided that social media should be monitored to stop rumour-mongering, especially in the wake of ongoing protests against the contentious legislation.
Checking of vehicles has been stepped up on border areas to ensure that 'unscrupulous' elements do not enter the national capital to disrupt the rally, sources said. A multilevel security arrangement will be in place on Sunday, with CCTV surveillance of all the routes leading to the venue and snipers being positioned atop buildings to ensure security, they said.
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The Delhi Police is in close touch with the SPG and the BJP for the security arrangements during the programme.
In a statement, senior BJP leader Vijay Goel said preparations for the 'dhanyawad rally', which is being organised to thank PM Modi for giving ownership rights to 40 lakh residents of 1,731 unauthorised colonies, are in full swing. A total of 11 lakh signatures by residents of unauthorised colonies will be handed over to the PM as a thank you gesture, he said.
The BJP has majorly focused on unauthorised colonies in this rally because this will become a big issue in upcoming Delhi elections. A tableau of unauthorised colony has been installed too.