The Indian Express (Delhi Edition)
Meetings to door-to-door canvassing: AAP drums up support ahead of March 31 mega rally at Ramlila maidan
AHEAD OF the March 31 INDIA bloc rally at Ramlila Maidan to protest against the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is holding extensive meetings and going door to door to mobilise support.
Starting Thursday, 2,600 teams at the mandal level will go door to door to invite residents while AAP officials will also engage with the public at all 2,500 polling stations. Ministers and MLAS have been tasked with overseeing preparations, serving as observers in their assembly constituencies.
Atapressconferencetuesday, AAP Delhi convenor Gopal Rai said,“we’llalsoextendinvitations to students, youth, resident welfare associations, NGOS, and other social organisations.”
Prominent Opposition leaders from across the country are expected to attend the rally.
Explaining the broader significance of the rally, Rai said, “The CM’S arrest by the Bjp-led government has sparked outrage among Delhi’s populace... This is an attack on democracy that has ignited anger in people’s hearts and prompted peaceful demonstrations which too are being met with heavy police presence... The way they have imposed Section 144..., it feels like the Delhi Police is the State. I would like to tell the central government that despite attempts to stifle dissent using Section 144, the resolve to protest remains steadfast.”
“If this dictatorial government can arrest the CM, then nobody is safe in Delhi. This fight transcends party lines; it is not the AAP’S rally, it’s not INDIA’S rally... it’s now the fight of every individual who cherishes the country’s constitution and democracy,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) called a meeting of its district and block presidents where state unit chief Arvinder Singh Lovely underscored the importance of rallying in solidarity with alliance partners amidst the recent adversities. “The timing of freezing the Congress party’s account and harassment of prominent
Opposition leaders by the BJP government is coinciding with the announcement of Lok Sabha election dates... these incidents are specially designed to torment opposition parties,” he said.
On Monday, AAP launched the ‘Modi ka sabse bada darrkejriwal’ campaign, encouraging all leaders and workers to change theirsocialmediadisplaypictures in support of the CM. “PM Narendra Modi and BJP may try to jail Kejriwal, but how will they imprison his ideology?... Change your display picture and give a message... that this fight is not just Kejriwal’s, it is a fight... to save democracy and the Constitution,” AAP Minister Atishi said.