Delhi’s new protest site comes at a cost: Ramlila Maidan booking tops ₹1.2 lakh, no dates till December, says report
The ground is booked through the Municipal Corporation of Delhi's horticulture department, which grants the permission. A no-objection certificate from Delhi Police is mandatory before the civic body clears an application.
Delhi police have designated Ramlila Maidan, Burari Ground and CBD Ground as new protest sites, replacing Jantar Mantar, which has been de-notified. The 12-acre Ramlila Maidan, capable of accommodating 50,000 people, can only be booked for December 29, 30 and 31 due to no free dates in the next two and a half months. The daily booking rate is ₹50,000 with a refundable security deposit of ₹55,000, totaling around ₹1.21 lakh including taxes.
This makes a protest at Ramlila Maidan costly, as opposed to Jantar Mantar which did not require a payment. The ground, originally a pond until 1930, has witnessed numerous historic protests and public meetings, including those by BJP's Syama Prasad Mookerjee in 1952, Jawaharlal Nehru in 1956 and 1957, and Indira Gandhi in 1971.
Major festivals like Dussehra and Diwali are also held at the site. Its location in a busy commercial area adds to the challenges of organizing protests there.
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