New Delhi, Oct 17: Protesters on Saturday organised a ‘Reclaim Jantar Mantar’ march, demanding that the iconic location be restored as an officially designated site for demonstrations after the Union government de-notified it for protests on October 12.
Several protesters were detained by the Delhi Police during this march.
The development comes against the backdrop of ongoing demonstrations in the national capital against the Election Commission of India (ECI).
Following the de-notification of Jantar Mantar, three new locations in Delhi — Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground and Central Business District (CBD) Ground in East Delhi — have been designated for holding protests.
Carrying banners and raising slogans, the demonstrators demanded that Jantar Mantar be redesignated as the official protest site.
They also raised slogans against the ECI and called for the withdrawal of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process of electoral rolls.
A protester said, “We want to convey that ever since the sit-in protest against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar started on October 2, the Union government has been continuously detaining people who step out onto the streets and try to reach Jantar Mantar. Attempts are being made to brutally detain them, and women are being mistreated.
We are not going to tolerate this.”
“In a democracy, there is freedom to raise one’s voice, and if it is indeed a democracy, the government should not be afraid. Jantar Mantar should be handed back to the people so that democratic voices can be raised from there,” the protester added.
Lehra do Tiranga: Delhi Police files multiple FIRs
Delhi Police has registered multiple FIRs in connection with alleged violation of prohibitory orders in Connaught Place ahead of the Cockroach Janta Party’s ‘Lehra do Tiranga’ protest a day ago, sources said on Saturday.
“Despite repeated announcements asking people to disperse, a crowd gathered in and around Connaught Place on Friday, prompting the police to initiate legal action,” said the source.
Delhi Police allows Cong to hold rally on Nov 1
The Delhi Police has allowed the Congress to hold a rally at Ramlila Maidan on November 1 and issued a no-objection certificate (NOC) for the event, a senior police officer said on Saturday.
DMK MPs meet demands for CEC’s removal
The DMK parliamentary party meeting, held under the leadership of party president M K Stalin on Saturday, adopted four key resolutions, including one demanding the immediate dismissal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the criticism of the SIR of the electoral roll.
The meeting resolved that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, “which was rushed through in Bihar, Tamil Nadu, and several other states, systematically disenfranchised genuine voters”.
Women’s groups hold march over cop assault
Demanding action against police personnel accused of sexually assaulting and harassing women and transgender protesters, women activists on Saturday took to the streets of the national capital, raising slogans of “You can threaten us, but you cannot silence us”.
Carrying placards and banners, the protesters marched towards the Delhi Police Headquarters, calling for accountability over alleged sexual and gender-based violence during demonstrations against the Election Commission of India (ECI).
Raut slams Dipke’s arrest
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Saturday slammed the Centre over the arrest of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke, saying there needs to be a regime change if it doesn’t allow youth to wave the tricolour.
Dipke was granted conditional bail and asked to sign a peace bond on Saturday. (Agencies)