Jantar Mantar ‘denotified’ as protest site: How it became Delhi’s hub for dissent

The Delhi Police announced on Monday that Jantar Mantar, a 18th-century astronomical observatory, will no longer be a "designated site" for protests in the city. Three new venues - Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground, and CBD Ground - have been designated as protest locations. The Ministry of Home Affairs previously formed a committee to identify alternative venues for citizens to organize protests, leading to Jantar Mantar's de-notification.

This decision was met with criticism from the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and Left-affiliated organizations, who argued that the move violated citizens' fundamental rights to protest and peaceful assembly. The CJP's co-convenor, Saurav Das, accused the government of "denotify(ing) democracy" and called the decision an "assault on people's fundamental right to protest."