The Youth Hunkar rally of Jignesh Mevani, for which the police denied permission, took off in Delhi's Connaught Place today, surrounded by police and paramilitary troops. Nearly 15,000 security personnel - armed with water cannons and tear gas and wearing riot gear -- have been posted at the heart of the national capital to foil the rallyists and keep the peace. Calling the situation "unfortunate", Mr Mevani said the government was "targeting" him. Last week, a case was filed against the 37-year-old lawyer activist following the caste clashes near Pune that spread and affected the parts of Maharashtra for three days.