Modi Mega Rally: PM At Delhi's Ramlila Maidan As BJP Kicks Off Poll Campaign

Prime Minister Modi is addressing a mega rally at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi, amid massive protests that are being held by the masses against the amended Citizenship Act across the capital and the country. The prime minister is also expected to bring up the CAA issue in his speech.

As the nation protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act, the BJP kicks off its campaign for the Delhi Assembly polls on Sunday, projecting legalising of illegal colonies as its big "achievement". (ANI)

New Delhi: As the nation protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act, the BJP kicks off its campaign for the Delhi Assembly polls on Sunday, projecting legalising of illegal colonies as its big "achievement". The BJP has fronted its best bet - Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take on the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party alike from the Ramlila ground at the rally. Prime Minister Modi is addressing a mega rally at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi, amid massive protests that are being held by the masses against the amended Citizenship Act across the capital and the country. The prime minister is also expected to bring up the CAA issue in his speech. Lakhs of people have come to attend the rally. This came as a huge challenge for security personnel, especially, when it is taking place amid ongoing protests in the national capital. The Delhi Police have made elaborate security arrangements at the venue, 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 rally comes just a week after the Jamia protests in the national capital. Though the Special Protection Group (SPG), responsible for the Prime Minister's security, has sanitised the area, the Delhi Police, the agency responsible for law and order, will have to be on its toes. Area sanitisation means that the movement of locals will be restricted, shops will be closed and security personnel will be deployed. Also, keeping this in mind, Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik held several meetings on Saturday to review the security situation ahead of the rally. According to a senior police official, 20 companies of outside force will be deployed. Each company has 70-80 personnel. Apart from this, traffic police personnel will also be deployed along the route to be taken by the prime minister, the official said. Also Watch | Hansraj Hans hails PM Modi at BJP rally in Delhi, sings 'Dil Modi Jee Ne Moh Liya' In a statement, senior BJP leader Vijay Goel said preparations for the rally, which is being organised to thank Prime Minister Modi for giving ownership rights to 40 lakh residents of 1,731 unauthorised colonies, are in full swing. Cutouts of PM Modi, BJP president and Home Minister Amit Shah and Working President J P Nadda have been put up around Ramlila Maidan. He said that LED screens have been installed at several places. Outside the premises, people from Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh will be playing 'dhol'. Also Watch | Three major challenges before PM Modi before 2024 elections The BJP has majorly focused on unauthorised colonies in this rally because this will become a big issue in the upcoming Delhi elections. A tableau of unauthorised colony has been installed too. Tight security for PM's rally • 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, the 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. • The Delhi Police is in close touch with the SPG and the Bharatiya Janata Party for the security arrangements during the programme. The Delhi BJP has also deployed volunteers as part of its security arrangements for the rally. (with inputs from PTI)