By Our Editorial Team
First publised on 2026-10-10 08:02:45
Peaceful protest is the backbone of a democracy. Since most protests take place in the capital, it makes sense for the city to have a designated space for them, so that other citizens are inconvenienced as little as possible. Rather than denying permission outright, the administration should direct organisers to that space. Jantar Mantar has long served this purpose. Given its proximity to the seat of power and Delhi's central business district, if the government finds it unsuitable, it should designate an alternative venue and notify it.
The right to assemble peacefully and without arms is a fundamental right, as is the freedom of speech and expression. The right to participate in a peaceful assembly follows from both, and pre-emptive arrests without sufficient legal grounds infringe these rights. The top leadership of CJP has been detained along with several politicians and celebrities who intended to attend the rally.
What is unfolding in Delhi is out of all proportion to a rally by Gen Z protesters: trains cancelled, Metro stations shut, students threatened, the internet suspended and 20,000 security personnel deployed. The Supreme Court has held that State action must be proportionate to the threat it addresses. The government is behaving as though the protesters intend to march on North and South Blocks and overthrow it. That is not how a democracy responds to dissent.









