Can Ramlila show distract Left from Bush?

Sharma said there will be no compromises. ‘‘This is going to be our biggest rally ever. Their threat is a gathering of over 40,000 at Ramlila Maidan which will march to Jantar Mantar on March 2, a day when Bush will visit Rajghat. The traffic police want to bring down the marching protesters to a manageable 5,000-7,000. With politicians refusing to bite the bait, the police are now planning to organise a cultural event at Ramlila Maidan to entice protestors to stay on and not march.

‘‘We tried to suggest to them that only 5,000-7,000 people go on the march and the rest stay at Ramlila Maidan but they have threatened to block all the major city roads if we stop them. We have suggested that the crowds be kept at Ramlila maidan with party leaders addressing them. If that does not work, we are exploring the possibility of organising a cultural programme for them at Ramlila Maidan. We have approached some entertainers in this regard,’’ said an official.

SP leaders told the police they will bring some 500 buses and 25,000 people from Uttar Pradesh, the plans to mobilise another 15,000 people.