Opposition slams government over Jantar Mantar protest site de-notification

Opposition parties and activists have launched a sharp attack on the government following the de-notification of Jantar Mantar as a designated protest venue in New Delhi, characterizing the move as an assault on democratic freedoms.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh alleged that the decision reflects a troubling indifference to democratic principles at the highest levels of government. "Democracy no longer matters for the Home Minister and the Prime Minister," Ramesh said in his criticism of the policy shift.

Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Citizen for Justice and Peace (CJP), similarly condemned the action, describing Jantar Mantar as emblematic of India's resistance tradition. "Jantar Mantar is a spirit of resistance that nobody can ever take away," Dipke said, contending that administrative orders cannot extinguish the symbolic significance of the historic venue.

The de-notification marks a significant change to New Delhi's protest landscape, where Jantar Mantar has long served as a focal point for demonstrations and activism. The move is likely to intensify debate over the government's approach to managing public dissent and the space available for organized protest in the capital.

Opposition figures argue the decision represents a broader pattern of restricting avenues for democratic expression, though government officials have not yet publicly detailed the rationale behind the de-notification.