From JP’s call against Indira Gandhi to Anna’ Hazare’s Lokpal stir: Ramlila Maidan’s legacy

The Delhi Police recently designated Ramlila Maidan as one of three new sites for protests in the capital city. This location, situated near key political areas, has a rich history of significant rallies and agitations. Past notable events include Jayaprakash Narayan's rally in 1975, which contributed to the eventual imposition of the Emergency by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

The crowd of 1,00,000 rallied against Mrs Gandhi's Prime Ministership, demanding her resignation. Following the Emergency's end, JP returned to Ramlila Maidan to rally for the Janata Party, pushing for the choice between freedom and slavery.

Anna Hazare's fast for an effective Lokpal movement also began at Ramlila Maidan in 2011, drawing large crowds and turning the venue into a social gathering. Police maintained a non-interfering presence as Hazare addressed the audience intermittently, recalling the freedom struggle.

In 2011, Baba Ramdev also protested against corruption and black money at Ramlila Maidan, but police cleared the area during the night. Meanwhile, Syama Prasad Mookerji, the Jana Sangh founder, staged a Satyagraha against Article 370 and the permit system in 1952, ultimately dying in detention. In recent years, various protests and rallies at the ground have addressed issues such as MSP and higher minimum wages for workers, restoration of the Old Pension Scheme, and opposition party rallies demanding the return of democracy.