Congress Slams Jantar Mantar De-notification, Says Protest Site Can Change but Public Anger Cannot

Opposition leaders on Monday criticised the decision to remove Jantar Mantar from the list of designated protest sites in Delhi, calling it arbitrary and asserting that the government could change the location of demonstrations but could not suppress public anger.

The remarks came after a Delhi Police notification de-notified Jantar Mantar as a designated protest venue. According to the notification, the decision was based on recommendations from a committee of the Union Home Ministry, with three alternative locations identified for demonstrations.

Speaking to reporters, Congress MP Manish Tewari said the Opposition was heading towards Barakhamba Road to submit a representation to the Supreme Court.

“The norm is that protests and demonstrations take place at Boat Club. People come there. You may change the designated venues for demonstrations, but you cannot reduce people’s anger,” Tewari said.

All India Mahila Congress president Alka Lamba questioned who had the authority to decide where people could protest in a democracy.

“In a democracy, who decides when something will begin or end, where people can go and where they cannot? Democracy will decide this,” she said.

Lamba added that the Constitution guaranteed people the freedom to raise their voices against injustice and oppression. She said the demand for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar remained firm across the country.

Congress leader and Haryana Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda said the de-notification of Jantar Mantar showed that the government was afraid of public dissent.

“They want to suppress the voice of the people,” Hooda said.

Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit took a sarcastic swipe at the decision, suggesting that the government should find a protest venue outside India if it did not consider the demonstrators entitled to raise their concerns in the country.

Congress MP Imran Masood also criticised the move, saying, “Now, we will protest on the top of the Himalayas.”

Congress MP Charanjit Singh Channi said the decision could lead to further restrictions on people’s movement in the national capital.

“They will gradually say you cannot come to Delhi, as if Delhi is their father’s property,” Channi said.

Congress leader Digvijaya Singh, meanwhile, said the party would follow its collective decision on the matter.

According to the Delhi Police circular cited in the report, Jantar Mantar has been de-notified as a designated protest site following recommendations from a Home Ministry committee.

The notification identified three alternative locations in Delhi for demonstrations: Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground and CBD Ground in East Delhi.

Opposition leaders maintained that changing the designated venue would not diminish their determination to raise their concerns, including their demand for Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.