Ludhiana/Jagraon, February 22 As per media reports elaborate security arrangements have been made for Bhartiya Janta Party’s candidate for Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi’s so-called ‘Fateh Rally’ at Jagraon Sugar Mill grounds today (Feb. 23).
Certain media sections have revealed that more than 10,000 police personnel have been deployed at the rally venue and in nearby areas even as the Gujarat Chief Minister would be addressing the public from a bulletproof stage.
DGP Sumedh Saini taking stock of security arrangements in Jagraon on Saturday.
As per information Punjab DGP Sumedh Saini himself supervised the security arrangements in Jagraon on yesterday (Feb. 22).
Three different stages have been erected for the leaders while the pandal for the audience is spread over 96 acres of land.
Over 100 acres has been reserved for the parking of vehicles. The land for parking areas has reportedly been taken on rent form the farmers.
The Badal Dal-BJP alliance has been claiming that more than 2 lakh people were would be participating in this rally.
The Punjab government has decided to close the Moga-Ludhiana highway for general commuters on February 23 and only vehicles ferrying people to the rally would be allowed to travel on this stretch.
The entry of heavy vehicles has also been banned on this highway.
Slum kids clear venue
According to The Tribune [s]ome poor children were allegedly seen doing labour at local Sugar Mills grounds, the venue for BJP leader Narendra Modi’s Fateh Rally, today.
The children were allegedly draining out the rainwater accumulated at the venue after it rained last night.
The Tribune has quoted unnamed sources saying: “the administration forcibly brought some children from nearby slums to work at the venue”.
“The organisers forced the children to drain out the rainwater from the venue,” alleged sources.
It is notable that certain Sikh organizations incluidng Shiromani Akali Dal Amritsar led by Simran Jeet Singh Maan and United Sikh Movement have been opposing Narindra Modi’s rally in Punjab. These Sikh boides have been accusing Narindra Modi for being anti-minority, while holding him responsible for 2002 pogrom of Muslims in Gujrat.