Opposition party challenges Delhi Police decision to denotify Jantar Mantar protest site

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has rejected Delhi Police's decision to remove Jantar Mantar from its list of authorized protest sites, with party co-convener Saurav Das describing the action as unacceptable on Monday.

Das questioned whether the Ministry of Home Affairs had consulted with the public, stakeholders, or civil society organizations before implementing the denotification. "The Jantar Mantar belongs to the people of India," Das stated, emphasizing that the decision was made without adequate democratic engagement.

Under the official police order, three alternative locations have been designated for public demonstrations in place of the centrally-located Jantar Mantar. Das criticized this development as part of what he characterized as a broader erosion of democratic freedoms, alleging the government was undermining citizens' constitutional rights to protest.

The denotification marks a significant change for New Delhi's protest landscape, as Jantar Mantar has long served as a focal point for demonstrations and activism in the capital. The move has sparked debate about the balance between managing public order and protecting citizens' freedom of expression and assembly.