Newly elected Gujrat MLA and Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani will go ahead with the ‘Yuva Hunkar Rally’ or ‘Social Justice Rally’- scheduled to be held at Delhi’s Parliament Street after Jantar Mantar has been banned – despite permission being denied by the Delhi Police DCP.
The Vadgam MLA Jignesh Mevani had requested a permit for the rally which was denied by Delhi Police on Monday, 8 January. In a tweet, the police had said that the request for the protest was kept “under consideration”. The permission by Delhi for a rally and protest in which turnout is estimated to be in thousands on Parliament Street was denied on the grounds of NGT orders
In a tweet, the office of Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) said that the organizers were not ready to change their venue despite being strongly advised to do so. The permission, according to a report, was denied by the Joint Commissioner of police in the view of the NGT’s order. The official said, “Nobody has been given a permission. As there is a government order that no protest can be staged at Jantar Mantar, we have asked organizers to hold the protest at alternate sites like Ramlila Maidan”.
There has been heavy police deployment with water cannons and tear gas lined up in Parliament Street and Jantar Mantar. All main roads going towards the proposed rally place and Prime Minister Residence were blockaded turning Parliament Street into a fortress.
The Delhi Police had orders to remove Bhim Army supporters led by Jignesh from Ambedkar Park where they were supposed to pay tribute to Ambedkar before leaving for the Hunkar rally at 10 am. The purpose behind the protest organized by the supporters of Bhim Army – a Dalit group, founded by Chandrashekhar Azad – was to emphasize on the important issues for a socially deprived section like education, health, employment and gender justice.
According to a report, a large section of students from all over India including Universities and colleges in Capital, women’s group, and activists are expected to attend the Hunkar Rally.
The Dalit outfit founder Azad was arrested from Himachal Pradesh in June last year. He was identified as the main culprit in Thakur-Dalit clash in Saharanpur district, Uttar Pradesh.
The Rally organizers have urged the supporters and participants to gather on the Parliament Street and that Rally will continue despite not having permission at 12 pm today. After this, the Delhi Police are ready with various protective measures like water cannon and tear gas.
Joint CP of New Delhi told media that no permission was given because of an order by NGT that rallies cannot be staged at Jantar Mantar. The organizers of the rally were reluctant to change their venue and decided lastly to go with their own planned schedule. Last year NGT had ordered the police to stop the use of loudspeakers and public meetings and rallies at Jantar Mantar.
Former JNU student union President Mohit Kumar Pandey told that “There has been a lot of attempts to stop this event and even some media houses are broadcasting wrong information that police has denied the permission for the rally.”
