‘Reclaim public spaces’: Civil society groups march against protest curbs

As part of a nation-wide march, civil society groups organised a Tiranga March in Bengaluru on Friday (October 23), demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar and the scrapping of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). They also called for the right to protest to be extended beyond Freedom Park. 

The protesters marched from Town Hall to challenge the Licensing and Regulation of Protests, Demonstrations and Protest Marches (Bengaluru City) Order, 2021, which the city police cite to restrict protests to Freedom Park. 

Apart from Town Hall, groups of protesters gathered with placards at various locations across the city, including Anandpura, Infantry Road, the War Memorial and Brigade Road. 

The protesters said the march was aimed at reclaiming Town Hall and other public spaces as venues for citizens to express dissent. They demanded that the police revert to the earlier Licensing and Controlling of Assemblies and Processions (Bangalore City) Order, 2009, which they said would allow protests beyond the designated venue. 

The Bengaluru City police, who have previously detained protesters for demonstrating at Town Hall, granted conditional permission for Friday’s march, restricting it to a Tiranga March and warning that participants would be detained if they displayed placards. The march was held amid a heavy police presence.