New Delhi: The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Friday strongly opposed any move to remove Jantar Mantar from the list of designated protest venues, saying it “will not tolerate taking away” the site.
The party’s reaction came hours after the Delhi High Court questioned whether demonstrations should continue at the centrally located venue, observing that protests there could unnecessarily bring the entire city to a standstill.
The CJP had led a students’ movement at Jantar Mantar last month over the alleged NEET-UG question paper leak. The agitation eventually culminated in the resignation of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
In a post on X, CJP spokesperson Saurav Das said the party would resist any attempt to restrict the use of Jantar Mantar for public demonstrations.
“HANDS OFF our Jantar Mantar! Before trying to take away our protest site, tell us if you will designate the India Gate where we can exercise our fundamental right to peacefully protest. You took away the India Gate. We will not tolerate taking away of OUR Jantar Mantar too!” Das said on X.
Police call Jantar Mantar Designated Site
The CJP’s statement came weeks after the Delhi Police clarified that Jantar Mantar remained an authorised venue for protests, subject to prior permission, as reported by Hindustan Times.
On July 19, a day before the party’s proposed march to Parliament, the police said demonstrations could be held at the site after securing the necessary approval from the authorities.
The police had earlier maintained that India Gate was not a designated protest venue. In November last year, several people were detained while demonstrating there against air pollution in the National Capital Region.
“India Gate is not a protest site. The designated protest site in New Delhi is Jantar Mantar, as per the Supreme Court’s directions. That is why we have advised everyone to follow the guidelines. At India Gate, people come along with their families to enjoy, and it is a national monument. There are VIP routes here; we are deployed here regularly,” New Delhi district DCP Devesh Kumar Mahla had told ANI.
Das’s remarks followed observations made by a bench of the Delhi High Court during the hearing of a petition concerning a proposed protest at Jantar Mantar.
The court questioned the continued use of a venue in the heart of the Capital for demonstrations, saying such gatherings could disrupt traffic and affect the functioning of the city.
“According to me, these things should not happen in the city, but it’s the government’s call. Law and order is the police’s department. Why should the city be put to ransom unnecessarily?,” a bench of Justice Amit Mahajan said.
“Personally, if you have to ask me, I have a different view. I don’t think protests should happen inside the city,” he added.
The judge, however, made it clear that the final decision on the matter rested with the government, since the maintenance of law and order came under the jurisdiction of the police and the executive authorities.
Plea Over Dalit Christian Protest
The observations were made while the court was considering a petition filed by the All India Dalit Christian Rights Protection Committee.
The organisation has sought permission to hold a peaceful demonstration at Jantar Mantar on August 10 in support of its demand that Dalit Christians be granted Scheduled Caste status.
According to the petitioner, it had submitted an application to the Delhi Police on July 9 seeking approval for a three-hour protest. The proposed demonstration, it said, would not include a march, overnight camps, a hunger strike or any occupation of public roads.
The committee told the court that the police had not yet taken a decision on its request.
The Delhi Police, however, informed the court that it would decide on the application by Saturday. The force also said the Supreme Court was scheduled to hear a public interest litigation challenging the continued use of Jantar Mantar as a protest venue.
The issue has assumed greater significance following the CJP’s proposed march from Jantar Mantar to Parliament on July 20.
