The proposed rally of Delhi chief minister and Aam Aadmi Party national president Arvind Kejriwal in Jaipur remains tangled in administrative delays. Days before the event, the party leaders wait for 'security clearance' from the city police.
"The officials have verbally told us that permission cannot be given due to security reasons. It is just another unnecessary harassment and attempts to demotivate our workers and our rally," says Devendra Shastri, Rajasthan state convener of AAP.
Proposed to be held at Ramleela Ground in Jaipur, Arvind Kejriwal's public meeting is first in the sequence of his programmes planned in Rajasthan ahead of the Assembly elections that are to be held on December 7. Delay in police permission for the rally has come as another opportunity for the party to rally behind their leader before the main event.
"Initially, the JMC delayed the allotment of the event venue to us, thereafter they took another 10 days to allow us advertising for the public meeting. All this, despite the Election Commission office, has stated that they do not have any objections to the event," adds Shastri.
Despite uncertainty over granting of police permission, the party leaders continue to ensure a mega-gathering during their national president's Jaipur visit.
They look for legal options for getting permission and are blaming the ruling BJP for the obstacles posed by police and other departments. City police officials meanwhile have refrained to comment on the allegations.
Kejriwal's rally will also be the first demonstration of power by AAP in Rajasthan and it also aims to boost the party's poll campaign.
On the second day of his indefinite hunger strike, AAP leader Rampal Jat shuttled between Jaipur police commission rate and district administration offices to seek permission to stage a sit-in protest in the state capital Jaipur. The AAP leader has been on hunger strike demanding government purchase of farmer produce and other farmer welfare issues. A permission for the same continues to evade him on various grounds. “They can deny me a permission to stage a protest, but I will not let this disrupt my agitation for the welfare of farmers. I shall continue with my protest at a personal level and stay on hunger strike,” Jat told DNA.