SPG, police finalise arrangements for Modi’s rally

Tribune News Service

Shimla, April 25

The Special Protection Group (SPG) and the local police today finalised the arrangements for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rally after the district administration gave a go-ahead to the SPG for the rally brushing aside concerns that the huge gathering at the venue may damage the underneath water tank.

The administration told the SPG that after inspecting the Ridge, particularly the area marked as water tank, no visible cracks were found and in the past also, huge gatherings had assembled at the venue on occasions like summer festivals, New year, Republic Day and statehood day functions, besides swearing ceremony of the Chief Minister.

The SPG and the police today held a full rehearsal of movement of cascade on three routes from the Annandale helipad to the Ridge via the Mall road, the Raj Bhawan road and the road from the Winter Field to the Central Telegraph Office.

The seating arrangements were finalised and eight gates have been erected for the entrance and separate enclosures have been made for VVIPs, dignitaries, mediapersons, women and other sections and the Ridge has been converted into a fort. The managements of the school falling in the routes of Prime Minister’s motorcade are a worried lot as the movement of vehicles has been restricted. Union health Minister JP Nadda and former Chief Minister PK Dhumal jointly inspected the venue of the rally at the Ridge.

Nadda said the uncertainty over the laying of the foundation of hydro engineering college at Bilaspur was over and the Prime Minister would lay the foundation online from the Jubbarhatti airport and also launch the “UDAN” (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) scheme online from 50 upgraded airports, including Shimla.

Earlier, the foundation laying was to be done from the Ridge itself, but the BJP leaders did not want any other programme to be linked with the rally. A strict vigil is being maintained by security personnel on all suspicious persons and vulnerable location and checking of people and vehicles at barriers has been intensified.

BJP leaders have urged the people to reach the venue ahead of time to avoid any inconvenience and a large number of volunteers have been deployed to assist the people. While the security forces were busy making arrangements, the BJP leaders continued their cleanliness drive with broom-wielding Union Minister JP Nadda, former Chief Minister Dhumal and state BJP chief Satpal Satti sweeping the streets at Totu, Sabzi Mandi and Kasumpti, respectively.

Hundreds of works joined their leaders in the campaign and a mass contact programme followed during which personal invitations were extended to people for attending the rally. The campaign was crucial not only for mobilising people to come to the rally but also for winning the Shimla Municipal Corporation polls slated for next month.

The BJP is making all out efforts to wrest the SMC and has mobilised all its workers and resources for ensuring victory in the civic body poll and Modi’s rally is also seen as a part of the party’s strategy.