Protests confined to Freedom Park; citizen groups demand restoration of right to protest

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: The Horatada Hakkigaagi Janandolana (Coalition for the Right to Protest) is a coalition of progressive and democratic groups and individuals in Bengaluru, India, who are demanding that the right to protest be protected and the unreasonable restrictions imposed on it be withdrawn.

In a press meeting representatives of several groups such as ProKannada groups, LGBTQIA groups, Environmental groups, Farmer, Workers and Dalit organisations, Student Unions, Lawyers bodies and others spoke.

In January 2022, the Bangalore City Police brought in the Licensing and Regulation of Protests, Demonstrations and Protest Marches (Bengaluru City) Order, 2021.

Due to this order, today protests are permitted only in Freedom Park. Farmers protesting land acquisition in Devanahalli, Dalit activists seeking internal reservation, Powrakarmikas protesting for their rights, residents of Malleswaram protesting the Sankey flyover issue, LGBTQI community members who wanted to organise the traditional pride march etc. have been denied their right to protest and several of them have cases filed against them for exercising this fundamental right.

Unanimously the demands from all the citizen group representatives were that the right to protest anywhere be restored. One of the representatives said, “If the government can allow fancy cars and illegal commercialisation encroachments on footpaths and other areas of the city, why can't they allow protestors to demand what they want?”

The Horatada Hakkigaagi Janandolana has repeatedly approached the Government seeking that they ensure that the unconstitutional order issued by the Police Commissioner in the previous regime be immediately withdrawn.

They have met with the Chief Minister, the Home Minister, and the Police Commissioner, but no action has been taken. They have now taken a stand stating that the Constitution was given by BR Ambedkar and that it recognises the right to protest as a component of the right to the freedom of expression.

DEMANDS

The Unconstitutional Licensing and Regulation of Protests, Demonstrations and Protest Marches (Bengaluru City) Order, 2021 be immediately withdrawn.

All cases filed against persons who have exercised this fundamental right to protest, including workers, farmers, Dalits, women, and other marginalised communities be immediately withdrawn.

On October 2, the birth anniversary of the Father of our Nation, various democratic and progressive organisations including Trade Unions, Farmer Organisations, Dalit Organisations, Women organisations, and LGBTQIA Organisations will march from Gandhi Statue on M.G. Road to the Statue of Dr B.R. Ambedkar outside Vidhana Soudha to assert their fundamental and democratic right to protest and demand that this unconstitutional order be withdrawn.