Syed Khalique Ahmed | India Tomorrow
NEW DELHI—Why is Delhi police afraid of allowing peaceful and democratic protests inside the national capital? On Friday, the Delhi police made submissions before the Delhi High Court, saying that it cannot allow protests in residential areas owing to the prevailing situation amidst Covid-19 pandemic.
The submissions were made in response to a petition in the High Court by AAP MLAs seeking to organize a protest outside the residence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal.
Advocate Gautam Narayan appearing for the Delhi Police said that there were only designated places for protests-Jantar Mantar and Ramlila Ground-and protest cannot be allowed in any other area.
Bu there seems to be little logic in the arguments of the Delhi Police prohibiting the political activities in the National Capital. When all public places including malls, railway stations, airports, metro rail and markets have been opened and people are allowed to go there, why should the police not allow protests on spots other than the two spots.
And if Covid-19 cannot spread when people visit markets, malls and by using metro trains and public and private transport in the capital, how can the assembly of people in protests at certain roads result in spread of the pandemic.
There are allegations that police are acting at the behest of their political masters who are afraid of farmers demanding to organize their protests inside the national capital. And hence, the police are taking help of Covid-19 notifications and protocol to prevent any large-scale protests that harms the interest of the ruling party at the Centre. While the action of the Delhi Police in curbing the democratic right of the people to organize peaceful protests in support of their demands are unconstitutional, it also reflects its double standard because at the same time they are allowing people to visit markets, malls and other public places.
The government is also afraid that anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) movement will start again if the prohibition on the assembly of people was lifted. India witnessed the biggest public movement in its history after Independence when Muslim women launched anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) all across the country, with Shaheen Bagh in Delhi being the hub of the anti-CAA protest.
So, by using Covid-19 notification, the Delhi Police under the Central government has restricted the space for dissent and democratic protest in the capital and brought down the image of India known all over the globe as the biggest democracy of the world.
