More than 5,000 Delhi residents, largely from the Sikh community, along with victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, are expected to take part in a protest march from Tilak Nagar to Hari Nagar on November 1 at 11 am. Senior BJP leaders, including Hardeep Singh Puri and other Sikh leaders from the party, are also expected to join the march.
The protest is being organised against the INDIA bloc’s rally scheduled for the same day. The BJP has accused the Congress and its allies of hurting Sikh sentiments by choosing November 1, given the date’s association with the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
Meanwhile, in view of Rahul Gandhi’s rally at Ramlila Maidan, the Centre has once again extended the deployment of 270 Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) companies in Delhi, keeping them in the city until November 16. The extension comes amid planned political protests and the festival season. This is the third such extension issued this month, official sources said on Thursday.
The forces will assist the Delhi Police in maintaining law and order across the national capital.
Acting on a request from the Delhi Police, the Ministry of Home Affairs approved the extension for the period from October 31 to November 16, reported news agency PTI, citing sources. The Delhi Police has been directed to coordinate the deployment.
The 270 companies were first deployed in Delhi earlier this month in response to demonstrations by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). Their stay was extended twice before the latest order.
The Congress has announced a ‘March to Delhi’ under the INDIA bloc’s banner to protest against alleged “vote theft”. The march is scheduled to conclude with a rally at Ramlila Maidan in central Delhi on November 1.
According to the force-wise deployment details, 125 companies are from the Central Reserve Police Force, including 17 women’s units. The deployment also includes 20 Rapid Action Force companies, 46 Border Security Force companies, 39 Indo-Tibetan Border Police companies, 31 Sashastra Seema Bal companies and 12 Central Industrial Security Force companies. They will work alongside the local police.
Although each CAPF company has an authorised strength of 100 personnel, around 70 to 72 personnel are generally available for operational duties.
Protests organised by the CJP were held in parts of Delhi on October 9. The group sought the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Opposition parties later staged protests raising the same demand.
The CJP also held a ‘Wave the Tricolour’ demonstration on October 16 and has announced its support for the INDIA bloc’s protest.
The extended deployment will remain in place through November 16, covering the INDIA bloc rally, the possibility of sudden demonstrations and the continuing festival period.
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