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NGT bans protests at Jantar Mantar, civil society groups enraged

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8 years ago

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NGT bans protests at Jantar Mantar, civil society groups enraged

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The protest hotspot in the national capital was the venue of the 2011 Lokpal agitation by Anna Hazare which set the pace for UPA government’s ouster

The National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) decision to ban all protests and dharnas around the historic Jantar Mantar area – a known hotspot of many an agitations over the past decades – on grounds that such activities violate environmental laws, has irked civil society groups that would often use the venue for raising their voice against the government on crucial issues.

On Thursday, the green panel had said that the Delhi government had “failed” to protect the right to a pollution-free environment of the citizens living in the area around Jantar Mantar. It had also reprimanded the authorities concerned for failing to ensure that right of the people to a peaceful and comfortable life are not infringed by those who create noise pollution while exercising their right to freedom of speech and expression, which the NGT said, “can never be unlimited”.

The NGT Bench headed by Justice RS Rathore directed the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) to remove all temporary structures, loud speakers and public address systems from the stretch of the Jantar Mantar Road. The municipal body was also directed to remove the garbage lying in the area and clean it within four weeks.

The Tribunal directed the authorities to shift the protesters, agitators and people holding dharnas at Jantar Mantar to the Ramlila Ground near Old Delhi’s Ajmeri Gate “forthwith”.

The NGT’s verdict came on a plea filed by Varun Seth and others alleging that processions and agitations held by social groups, political parties, NGOs at the Jantar Mantar Road were a major source of noise pollution in the area.

“It is amply clear that the petitioners are suffering because of gross violation of laws, air pollution and health hazards due to lack of cleanliness and non- performance of duty by the authorities,” the Bench noted.

The NGT has ordered the NDMC chairman, the city Police Commissioner and the Delhi government to file compliance reports within five weeks.

The NDMC and Delhi police, which stand to obviously benefit from the ban – both outfits are under tremendous pressure when protests happen at Jantar Mantar since it is a VIP area and lies in close proximity to the Parliament – have welcomed the NGT’s order.

According to Delhi Police, on an average eight to ten demonstrations are held daily at Jantar Mantar. Till June 2017, 2,283 dharnas and demonstrations were held as compared to 1,921 in the same period during the year 2016.

It is at Jantar Mantar that social activist Anna Hazare had, in 2011, started his Lokpal agitation against the UPA government. Hazare’s agitation had forced the then Congress-led central government under Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to re-draft the Lokpal Bill after an unprecedented move of forming a joint committee of Union ministers and Hazare’s ‘civil society’ nominees. The agitation had also catapulted Arvind Kejriwal, then a mere activist of the India Against Corruption campaign, to become Delhi’s leading political figure – something that he used to good effect to launch the Aam Aadmi Party despite Hazare’s reservations and eventually sweep the Delhi assembly polls to become the state’s chief minister. Hazare’s protest had also drawn in people like yoga guru and businessman Ramdev, former Army chief General (retired) VK Singh (before he joined the BJP), advocate Prashant Bhushan, etc.

Jantar Mantar had also seen a major protest in 2015 by Army veterans who were demanding ‘One Rank One Pension’ and pay commission benefits. The agitation had hit the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJP government hard and forced it to consider the demands.

Understandably, civil society groups and common citizens who have used Jantar Mantar in the past as a protest venue are not happy with the NGT’s order. Several of these members and even journalists, who viewed Jantar Mantar as the only spot in the national capital where dissent against the Centre was not muzzled, took to Twitter and other social media platforms to vent their ire.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Centre revokes detention of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk after nearly six months

The central government has revoked the NSA detention of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk after nearly six months, saying the decision was taken after due consideration as Ladakh continues to witness political tensions.

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songm wangchuk

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who had been detained for nearly six months under the National Security Act (NSA), will be released after the central government decided to revoke the detention order.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said the decision was taken after due consideration, noting that Wangchuk had already completed nearly half of the permissible detention period under the law.

In a statement, the government said the move was part of its broader effort to maintain peace and encourage dialogue in Ladakh.

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The government also reiterated its commitment to providing safeguards for Ladakh and expressed hope that regional concerns would be resolved through discussions, including through the High-Powered Committee and other dialogue mechanisms.

Detained after protests in Leh

Wangchuk was detained on September 26 last year, two days after violent protests broke out in Leh over demands for statehood and constitutional protection for Ladakh.

The clashes reportedly left four people dead and about 50 others injured, including security personnel.

Authorities detained Wangchuk under the NSA on the orders of the Leh district magistrate to maintain public order. He was later transferred to Jodhpur prison.

Long-running agitation over Ladakh safeguards

The activist has been one of the prominent voices in the movement seeking constitutional safeguards for Ladakh, particularly the inclusion of the Union Territory under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.

Since 2023, Wangchuk has led campaigns highlighting the impact of climate change on Ladakh’s fragile ecosystem.

Last year, he undertook a 35-day fast demanding statehood and constitutional protections for the region. The protest eventually escalated into unrest, after which he called off the fast, saying his message of pursuing a peaceful path had not succeeded.

Legal challenge and court remarks

Wangchuk’s detention was challenged in the Supreme Court by his wife Gitanjali Angmo, an educator.

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In a post on social media platform X, Tharoor said the 169-day detention appeared excessively long and called on the Supreme Court to establish strict norms for the maximum period of detention without trial.

He also argued that indefinite detention without trial was a practice inherited from the colonial era and should not exist in a mature democracy.

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BJP TMC workers clash

Supporters of the Bharatiya Janata Party and the All India Trinamool Congress clashed in central Kolkata on Saturday morning ahead of a rally scheduled to be addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi later in the day.

The confrontation took place near Girish Park, roughly five kilometres from the Brigade Parade Ground where the prime minister is expected to address supporters.

Eyewitnesses reported that members from both political groups raised slogans and threw stones at each other during the confrontation. The clash created tension in the area as supporters were moving towards the rally venue.

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TMC supporters also alleged that stones were thrown towards the residence of local party leaders during the incident.

Police personnel were quickly deployed to the spot to control the situation and prevent further escalation. A large contingent of security forces intervened to restore order in the area.

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Massive fire destroys around 80 shanties in west Delhi, hundreds left homeless

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massive fire

A massive overnight fire destroyed around 80 shanties in west Delhi, leaving hundreds of migrant families homeless after flames swept through a large slum settlement near Uttam Nagar.

The incident took place late on the night of March 11 at the Machhli Mandi shanty cluster in Matiala village. The blaze spread rapidly across nearly four acres, reducing homes made of bamboo, tarpaulin and plastic sheets to ashes within hours.

According to Delhi Police, the affected families were largely migrant workers from Bihar who earn their livelihood as daily-wage labourers and ragpickers. Though no deaths were reported, residents lost most of their belongings including clothes, utensils, food supplies and documents.

Firefighters battle flames through the night

The Delhi Fire Service deployed 23 fire tenders to control the blaze. Firefighters continued operations throughout the night and managed to bring the flames under control at around 3 am on Thursday. Cooling operations continued afterward to prevent the fire from reigniting.

Thick grey ash and burnt debris covered large parts of the area after the fire. Charred bamboo frames, melted plastic sheets and twisted tin roofs were scattered across the ground.

Some residents claimed they saw unidentified people arrive on motorcycles and set several huts on fire before fleeing. Authorities have not confirmed this allegation.

Authorities cite disputed land and possible waste burning

District Magistrate Mekala Chaitanya visited the site and said the land has been under dispute for a long time.

He stated that the occupants had been issued an evacuation notice on March 7, with the night of the fire marking the final deadline to vacate the area.

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Residents said they are now struggling to survive without basic necessities.

Rani Devi, a mother of three, said her family had no food, milk or drinking water after the fire destroyed their home and belongings. She added that many families were now sleeping amid the burnt debris.

A student, Rahul Kumar, whose board examinations are scheduled to begin soon, said his textbooks, notebooks and school uniform were all destroyed in the blaze.

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