New Delhi: Soon after Delhi Police decided to de-notify Jantar Mantar as a designated protest venue on Monday, Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke said the entire country will now become a site for demonstrations.
“They have removed Jantar Mantar as a designated protest site. Yes, it’s no longer a protest site as anyway it was turned into a war zone by the coward dictator. Ab poora desh Jantar Mantar banega!” Dipke wrote on X.
CJP co-convener Saurav Das said the government’s decision to de-notify Jantar Mantar as a protest site is “unacceptable”.
“Unacceptable. Why is Narendra Modi scared of Jantar Mantar? The Jantar Mantar belongs to the people of India. Did the Ministry of Home Affairs consult with the people of India? Were any stakeholders consulted? Were any organisations consulted?” Das opined in a post on X.
“Take it in writing — just how they are denotifying people’s Jantar Mantar, the prime minister will soon denotify democracy in India. This move is a step towards that. We do not accept this arbitrary decision. It is an assault on people’s fundamental right to protest and peaceful assembly. Now the whole country is becoming Jantar Mantar,” Das added.
The three venues identified for demonstrations are Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground and CBD Ground in Shahdara. The Delhi Police circular said detailed and revised standard operating procedures for organising protests at the three venues will be issued separately.
The Jantar Mantar has been the focal point of youth-led protests led by the CJP since June. The earlier demonstrations, in protest against alleged irregularities in crucial national-level exams, and demands for accountability from the Centre, culminated in the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
The iconic site, at heart of New Delhi, again came into the limelight last month after an investigative report published by The Indian Express raised questions about CEC Kumar over alleged electoral irregularities. It gave the fresh ammunition to Opposition allegations of ‘vote chori’ linked to SIR.