Amit Shah to address massive rally on CAA in Hubli today

BJP is expecting about 1 lakh people from Dharwad, Haveri and Gadag for the rally

amit-shah-delhi-pti Union Home Minister Amit Shah speaks at a foundation stone laying ceremony, in New Delhi | PTI

Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to address a massive rally on the Citizenship Act in Hubli, Karnataka, on Saturday. The rally will be held at the Nehru Maidan in Hubli town at 4pm.

Senior ministers of the Karnataka government including Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa are expected to attend the event. As many as 5,000 police personnel have been deployed to ensure security for the rally.

The police have barred protests in the run-up to the rally and warned violators would be detained. Traffic diversions will also be enforced.

In addition to Yediyurappa, Karnataka Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi and Karnataka BJP chief Nalin Kumar Kateel are expected to be present for the rally.

Joshi told Economic Times that the party is expecting "about 1 lakh people from Dharwad, Haveri and Gadag" to attend the Shah rally. "We are trying to reach every household in the three districts," Joshi claimed.

Shah's visit is also being watched for possible news on the delayed expansion of the Yediyurappa cabinet. B.S. Yediyurappa had promised ministerial berths for politicians who switched over from the JD(S) and Congress to help him form a government in 2019. While 11 of these lawmakers won bypolls in December, movement towards cabinet expansion has been slow, amid reports of disgruntlement among long-term' BJP MLAs.

Shah will arrive at Bengaluru earlier and will participate in an event organised by Vedanta Bharati at the Palace Grounds from 12.30pm. Our 1 lakh schoolchildren are expected to attend the event.