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Delhi Police remove Jantar Mantar as a designated protest site
Overview
Delhi Police have announced that Jantar Mantar, an iconic protest site near parliament for over three decades, is no longer a designated venue for demonstrations. The decision follows large-scale protests earlier in the year, including a Gen Z-led movement that resulted in the resignation of the federal education minister. Protesters have now been redirected to three alternative sites, which critics argue are further from the seat of power and expensive to book. While supporters and activists lament the loss of a historic space that gave ordinary citizens a voice, the future of the site remains uncertain as the Supreme Court hears challenges against its removal.
Key points
- Delhi Police have ruled that Jantar Mantar will no longer serve as a designated protest site, ending over three decades of use.
- The decision follows a massive Gen Z-led protest by the Cockroach Janta Party earlier in the year which demanded the resignation of the federal education minister.
- Authorities have barricaded the area and directed demonstrators to three alternative sites, which critics say are expensive and far from the seat of power.
- Jantar Mantar has historically hosted countless movements, including campaigns by farmers, students, ex-soldiers, and disaster survivors.
- The Supreme Court is currently hearing pleas challenging the removal of Jantar Mantar as a protest site.