Following the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has planned a colossal rally in the capital today, drawing attendance from prominent leaders of the Opposition's INDIA bloc, such as Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, and Akhilesh Yadav.
Dubbed the 'Loktantra Bachao' (Save Democracy) rally, the event is scheduled to take place at Ramlila Maidan in the national capital.
It has been convened in the wake of Kejriwal's apprehension in the Delhi liquor policy scandal last week, presenting itself as a formidable demonstration of solidarity and vigour by the INDIA bloc, especially with the Lok Sabha elections looming on the horizon.
The opposition is anticipated to vehemently denounce what it perceives as the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) alleged misuse of central agencies like the Enforcement Directorate, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and the Income Tax Department.
This issue has assumed paramount importance following the arrests of Kejriwal and former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, coupled with the tax notices dispatched to the Congress, including a staggering ₹1,800 crore demand sent on Friday.
Among the distinguished leaders expected to grace the occasion are Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, senior party luminary Rahul Gandhi, Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav, and NCP Chief Sharad Pawar.
Also slated to attend are Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray, former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren, National Conference President Farooq Abdullah, and PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti, among others.
The Trinamool Congress, notwithstanding its decision to contest the Lok Sabha polls solo in West Bengal, is likely to dispatch a representative.
Derek O'Brien, the party's leader in the Rajya Sabha, is expected to share the stage with Left party delegates, including Sitaram Yechury of the Communist Party of India (Marxist).
Representing the AAP, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will be in attendance alongside other senior functionaries.
Notably, Kejriwal's wife, Sunita Kejriwal, is anticipated to grace the event, along with Hemant Soren's wife, Kalpana Soren, who declared their resolve to "forge ahead together" during a meeting on Friday.
However, it remains uncertain whether Kejriwal, who has assumed a more prominent role following her husband's arrest and has been accused by BJP leaders of harbouring ambitions to usurp the chief ministerial post, will address the gathering.
The Congress has asserted that the rally will convey a potent message to Lok Kalyan Marg, the location of the Prime Minister's residence, signifying that the BJP-led government's tenure is nearing its end.
Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh elucidated, "It is not a rally centred around an individual.
Hence, it is dubbed the Loktantra Bachao rally. It encompasses the participation of around 27-28 parties, representing all constituents of the INDIA 'janbandhan'."
The AAP has obtained permission from the authorities to host the rally with a turnout exceeding 20,000 people. Budh Ram, AAP's Punjab working president, disclosed that the party has set an ambitious target of over 1 lakh participants from the state.
Delhi Traffic Police has issued an advisory, alerting commuters of impending restrictions and diversions on several roads from 9 am to 3 pm today. Commuters are urged to circumvent these routes and utilise public transportation, particularly the Metro, wherever feasible.
The BJP has staunchly maintained that both Arvind Kejriwal's arrest by the Enforcement Directorate and the issuance of tax notices to the Congress were undertaken independently by the agencies, adhering to legal protocols.
Additionally, it has rebuked the AAP for advocating the administration of Delhi from within prison walls.
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