New Delhi, July 29, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Former IPS officer Kiran Bedi has said that India’s law-and-order system continues to reflect a colonial-era policing mindset, arguing that the use of riot police and force should be a last resort while dealing with public protests.
In an interview with IANS, Bedi also advocated declaring Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan as the designated venue for major demonstrations, saying it offers adequate space and infrastructure and could help avoid confrontations witnessed during recent protests.
Referring to the agitation led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) over alleged examination irregularities, Bedi said the choice of Jantar Mantar as the protest venue contributed to the situation.
According to her, demonstrations near Parliament Street increase the likelihood of protesters attempting to march towards Parliament, leading to clashes with police. She said Ramlila Maidan, with better facilities and larger capacity, would be a more appropriate location for public gatherings.
Recalling earlier protest venues in the national capital, Bedi said demonstrations were once permitted much closer to the Prime Minister’s residence before being successively shifted to Tughlaq Road, India Gate and eventually Jantar Mantar.
Commenting on police handling of recent protests, Bedi said civil defence volunteers should be deployed before riot police. She suggested that trained civil defence personnel, followed by women police officers, should be used to engage with demonstrators, while riot control measures such as baton charges and tear gas should remain the final option.
“Our law-and-order system is still colonial,” Bedi said, adding that force should be used only after all peaceful methods of crowd management have been exhausted.
Drawing a comparison with the 2011 anti-corruption movement led by Anna Hazare, Bedi said she did not recall any instance of police resorting to lathi charge during the agitation at Ramlila Maidan. She noted that the protests were largely peaceful and participants had willingly offered arrests when required.
Bedi also reflected on the then UPA government’s handling of the Lokpal movement, saying the prolonged agitation could have been avoided had the proposed legislation been introduced earlier.
On the issue of examination paper leaks, she expressed confidence in the present government’s intent to address the problem, while emphasising that reforms should extend beyond examinations to the broader education system.
Commenting on demands for the resignation of former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Bedi said the matter should have been resolved earlier and suggested that accepting his reported offer to resign at the time could have prevented the controversy from escalating further.
She also said the emergence of citizen-led pressure groups on social media reflects people’s aspirations and concerns, adding that governments should respond constructively to genuine public feedback while dealing appropriately with destructive content.
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