NEW DELHI: Cockroach Janta Party spokesperson Saurav Das on Friday defended Jantar Mantar as Delhi’s key protest venue after the Delhi HC questioned whether demonstrations should continue in the heart of the capital.In a post on X, Das wrote, “HANDS OFF our Jantar Mantar!” He alleged that after public protests were no longer allowed at India Gate, any move to shift demonstrations away from Jantar Mantar would curtail citizens’ democratic rights.“Before trying to take away our protest site, tell us if you will designate the India Gate where we can exercise our fundamental right to peacefully protest. You took away the India Gate.
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We will not tolerate taking away of OUR Jantar Mantar too!” he said.Also read: Jantar Mantar ‘terror plot’ row: Amritsar top cop Gurpreet Bhullar shunted; BJP cries foul‘Why should the city be put to ransom unnecessarily’: Delhi HCDas’s remarks came after Justice Amit Mahajan, while hearing a petition seeking permission to hold a protest at Jantar Mantar, orally observed that protests should not inconvenience the city and asked, “Why should the city be put to ransom unnecessarily?”The court directed Delhi Police to decide the petitioner’s request by Saturday but did not order whether permission should be granted or denied.The issue of whether Jantar Mantar should remain Delhi’s designated protest site is also pending before the Supreme Court, which is examining a plea seeking an alternative venue for demonstrations in the national capital.