{
  "id": 14220546,
  "title": "Government Is Making Every Place A Jantar Mantar",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/government-is-making-every-place-a-jantar-mantar",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-13T14:14:13.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Press Journal",
    "slug": "free-press-journal",
    "url": "https://www.freepressjournal.in/analysis/government-is-making-every-place-a-jantar-mantar"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The government's decision to revoke Jantar Mantar's status as a designated protest site is misguided and suggests a troubling lack of confidence in democratic principles. When the police denied protesters permission to assemble at Jantar Mantar on October 10, people simply moved to other locations. Gradually, every available public space across the country began to function as makeshift Jantar Mantars. The government seems to have misunderstood the lesson from this spontaneous display of civil disobedience. Instead of acknowledging the legitimate grievances that prompted such protests, it opted to limit the venues available for dissent. Jantar Mantar, while not traditionally associated with large-scale demonstrations, had become a focal point for activism in recent years. Prior to the 1988 farmers' rally spearheaded by Mahendra Singh Tikait, the Boat Club lawns near India Gate had been the primary platform for mass gatherings in Delhi. However, subsequent restrictions following that rally redirected protests away from this prestigious location. The significance of Jantar Mantar in Delhi's protest history cannot be overlooked. Since 1993, it had emerged as the designated venue for demonstrations. Its proximity to key government buildings made it convenient for activists, while the narrow streets around it facilitated police control of crowds. Now, by removing the site from the list of designated protest areas, the authorities are undermining a space that has become an integral part of Delhi's democratic legacy. Ironically, the government had previously chosen Jantar Mantar as a convenient alternative to the Boat Club. By funneling dissent into a confined area for decades, it now seeks to move protesters to other locations such as Ramlila Maidan, Burari Ground, and CBD Ground, further distancing them from the capital's center. This is more than just an administrative change. The location of a protest matters because demonstrations serve a dual purpose: they bring people together and make their demands visible to those in power. A government committed to democracy should be cautious about creating situations where the suppression of public expression outweighs the need to address legitimate grievances. Across the world, protest sites have held symbolic importance. In London, demonstrators have gathered at Trafalgar Square, Parliament Square, and Hyde Park's Speaker's Corner. In Washington, the National Mall and Lafayette Square have served as venues for historic movements. In Berlin, Alexanderplatz and the Brandenburg Gate remain powerful symbols of public dissent. These locations matter because people have invested them with meaning through generations of struggle. Jantar Mantar has similarly acquired such significance. Democracy must provide space for protests and demonstrations, as these are essential to a healthy democracy. Individuals who feel aggrieved by government decisions deserve peaceful avenues to express their discontent. Allowing such expressions is preferable to forcing grievances underground, where they may fester and potentially become more dangerous. While governments can relocate crowds, impose barricades, and issue prohibitory orders, they cannot erase the underlying discontent. Every place can transform into a Jantar Mantar when people believe that their voices are no longer being heard by those in authority.",
  "summary": "The decision to de-notify Jantar Mantar as a designated protest site is ill-advised and betrays a disturbing lack of faith in democracy. When the police refused protesters permission to assemble there on October 10, they gathered wherever they could. Every available space became a makeshift Jantar Mantar. As a wag remarked, the whole country had become one giant Jantar Mantar. The government…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}