New Delhi, October 13, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Former IPS officer and former Puducherry Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi has questioned the suitability of Jantar Mantar as a protest venue in Delhi, citing its narrow lanes and proximity to sensitive buildings and government offices. She has also called for a clear security and operational plan for Ramlila Maidan whenever permission is granted for demonstrations.
In a post on X on Tuesday, Bedi reflected on the evolution of designated protest locations in the national capital, recalling how demonstrations had shifted from areas near the Prime Minister’s residence to the roads of Lutyens’ Delhi, India Gate, Boat Club and eventually Jantar Mantar.
She said every city needed an open space where citizens could express themselves democratically through protests, but urban planning often overlooked this requirement.
“Every city does require an open space for democratic expression, which we also call a protest, but forgets to provide for it. City planners, please note: Jantar Mantar was least suited to be a protest site in view of its narrow lanes and proximity to sensitive buildings and offices,” Bedi wrote.
Pointing to Jantar Mantar’s location near Connaught Place, one of Delhi’s prominent commercial centres, she said the administration had made a mistake in selecting the venue and had failed to correct it over the years.
Bedi noted that the Ministry of Home Affairs had identified Ramlila Maidan and other locations for demonstrations. She said the change might have required judicial intervention and stressed that authorities should clearly communicate security arrangements and operational procedures when granting permission for protests at Ramlila Maidan.
Her remarks came after Delhi Police de-notified Jantar Mantar as a designated protest site through an order made public on Monday. Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar issued the standing order on October 11, identifying Ramlila Maidan, Burari Ground and CBD Ground as alternative locations for demonstrations.
Ramlila Maidan is around three kilometres from Jantar Mantar, while CBD Ground in Shahdara is approximately 12 kilometres away and Burari Ground in north Delhi is about 23 kilometres away. Jantar Mantar lies roughly a kilometre from Parliament House.
The decision has drawn criticism from Opposition parties and the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP). Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh criticised the move, saying, “Democracy no longer matters for them (the Prime Minister and Home Minister). It is all a matter of Demokursi.”
CJP co-convener Saurav Das also described the decision as “unacceptable”, alleging that the change was arbitrary.
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