Opposition and youth groups condemn Centre's move to remove Jantar Mantar as protest venue

UPDATE - follow-up to 'Unacceptable': CJP on Jantar Mantar being denotified as protest site: Opposition parties and youth leaders strongly criticised the Centre's decision to de-notify Jantar Mantar in New Delhi as an official protest site.

Reactions

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh called the move a sign of extreme panic by the Prime Minister and Home Minister, stating that democracy no longer matters to them. Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav described it as the biggest defeat of the government, saying the ruling party wants to keep people away from places where rulers sit. Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke said Jantar Mantar is a spirit of resistance that cannot be taken away. CJP co-convenor Saurav Das stated the decision is an assault on the right to protest, while AISA president Neha said attempts to de-notify democracy will fail.

Context

This decision affects youth groups who were seeking permission to hold protests at Jantar Mantar to demand a rollback of the special intensive revision and the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Jantar Mantar has long served as a prominent historic venue for public demonstrations and political gatherings in the national capital.