Delhi Police responds to Congress's claim that mock CEC impeachment was blocked: 'Permission stands even now...'
This comes after Congress leader K.C. Venugopal alleged that the police had tried to block the Oct 30 'public impeachment' of CEC Gyanesh Kumar, which was to take place a day before the Nov 1 rally
The Delhi Police clarified that it did not block permissions for a Congress rally at Ramlila Maidan, countering allegations by the party that authorities intervened to stop a planned mock public impeachment of the Chief Election Commissioner.
The Delhi Police clarified that it did not block permissions for a Congress rally at Ramlila Maidan, countering allegations by the party that authorities intervened to stop a planned mock public impeachment of the Chief Election Commissioner.
The Delhi Police clarified that it did not block permissions for a Congress rally at Ramlila Maidan, countering allegations by the party that authorities intervened to stop a planned mock public impeachment of the Chief Election Commissioner.
The Delhi Police on Tuesday responded to Congress's claim that its planned mock "public impeachment" of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar was blocked by the Delhi Police.
However, the Delhi Police clarified that it had not withheld permission for the planned mock Parliament session at the Ramlila Maidan on October 30 ahead of the Congress's major November 1 rally there.
"Permissions regarding NOC for booking of Ramlila Ground from 25.10.2026 to 03.11.2026 to organise rally on 01.11.2026 stands even now," it said in a letter dated October 17, adding that it had "no objections", subject to prior permission from the land-owning authority and a few other terms and conditions.
"With Respect to the Ashoka Hotel Mock parliament, Delhi Police says it depends on the hotel since it's their private premises," an ANI report said, citing sources.
This comes a short while after Congress general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal claimed that the government-controlled Ashoka Hotel had initially allowed the mock Parliament event to be held on its premises, but later changed its mind after alleged police intervention.
"The day before yesterday, our people came to construct the infrastructure. The police stopped them. We don't know what the reason is ... That means it is not the Delhi police's decision. It is the decision of PM Modi and Amit Shah. They are protecting Gyanesh Kumar," the Congress leader told reporters, reiterating that it had booked the Ramlila Maidan from October 25 to November 3.
Venugopal and a group of Congress leaders had inspected preparations for the Nov 1 rally at the Ramlila Maidan.
He also warned that if the government continued to block its planned protests, then Opposition would stage a massive protest outside the residences of PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
"We can do the protest anywhere ... There are so many places in Delhi. How can the Delhi police stop us? ... Until Gyanesh Kumar is removed from that position and ... the election system of this country (is purified), we will not sit," he added.
The Congress allegations also came just a day after the Election Commission of India (ECI) filed a 15-point counter-affidavit in the Supreme Court, responding to the Opposition's plea for action against CEC Kumar.
Among other things, the ECI's response added that Form 6 was unchanged, and that CEC Kumar could not simply be impeached, and could only be removed like a Supreme Court judge.