The Delhi Police has denotified Jantar Mantar as a designated protest site, leading to criticism from Opposition parties and activists. The denotification follows recommendations from the Union home ministry.
On Monday, the Delhi Police removed Jantar Mantar as a designated protest site, a move that has sparked controversy and criticism from Opposition parties and activists. This decision was made by Delhi Commissioner of Police Anurag Kumar on October 11 based on recommendations from a committee constituted by the Union home ministry. As alternatives, the police designated the Ramlila Ground in central Delhi, Burari Ground in northern Delhi, and CBD Ground in eastern Delhi’s Shahdara area as venues for protest.
The order was issued against the backdrop of protests in the national capital by the Cockroach Janta Party political campaign, Opposition parties, and student groups to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Protests had also been held at Jantar Mantar in June and July against alleged exam irregularities.
The Cockroach Janta Party started a sit-in demonstration at the protest site on June 20, which continued till July 28. The protest resulted in Bharatiya Janata Party leader Dharmendra Pradhan resigning as the Union education minister. On Monday, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that ‘democracy no longer matters’ to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh described Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah as a 'poisonous pair' struggling with the protests against Kumar. He said, ‘we have seen in the past few days how brutally they have dealt with peaceful public protests.’
It is a definite sign of the extreme panic that has gripped the PM-HM duo that the historic Jantar Mantar will no longer be a place where our democracy is given a daily booster dose. The political campaign’s convenor Saurav Das asked whether the Union home ministry had consulted any stakeholders or organisations before making its decision.
Protests against Kumar have been held in Delhi and other parts of the country since October 2. The protesters have raised concerns after The Indian Express’ September 23 investigation showed that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had formally objected 14 times in 10 months to decisions by the poll panel related to the special intensive revision, saying some had been taken without their knowledge. According to The Indian Express investigation, Sandhu and Joshi had reportedly objected to changes to Form 6, appeals against the inclusion of voters in West Bengal, and the handling of voter data in Goa, among other matters. Form 6 is used to register new voters.
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