Permission is Key: Bhupender Yadav Defends Right to Protest
Union Minister Bhupender Yadav clarifies that the right to protest remains intact, provided permission is obtained and alternate sites are used.
Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, has clarified that the government is not suppressing the voice of the people, stating that any group is free to organise a protest provided they obtain the necessary permission. In an exclusive interaction with ANI, the Minister emphasised that the Bhupender Yadav protest permission stance is about regulation and order, not the denial of fundamental rights.
Fundamental Rights Remain Intact
Addressing concerns regarding the freedom of expression, the Union Minister pointed out that Article 19, which guarantees the Right to Freedom of Speech and Expression, has not been suspended in India. He reminded the public that such fundamental rights are only suspended during formal constitutional Emergency declarations.
Drawing a historical parallel, Yadav recalled the events of 1975, mentioning the instance of blank newspaper editorials during the Emergency. He asserted that such an era of censorship has not returned to the country since the Congress party left power after that period.
"Who has denied the demonstration? The government has given permission for a bigger place for the demonstration. Where is the demonstration? Where has it been denied to speak?"
The Jantar Mantar Norms and Legal Precedents
The Minister touched upon the legal framework governing protests in the capital, specifically referencing a 2018 case. He noted that the Supreme Court had established specific norms for Jantar Mantar following a challenge by the social activism group Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS).
The MKSS had challenged a blanket ban on protests in Central Delhi and Jantar Mantar. While the Supreme Court overturned the total ban—stating that such a move would diminish fundamental rights—it directed the Delhi Police to create guidelines to balance the right to protest with the needs of local residents. These guidelines resulted in a cap of 1,000 protesters per day and restricted demonstration hours to between 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM.
Yadav reiterated that while spontaneous marches without permission cannot be allowed, those who follow the legal process to seek permission are free to proceed.
Providing Larger Spaces for Demonstrations
Responding to claims of refusal, the Union Minister explained that the government has actually expanded the options for those wishing to hold large-scale gatherings. He mentioned that since the Ram Leela ground was already booked, the government provided three alternative sites to accommodate larger crowds.
He questioned why there are allegations of refusal when the administration has proactively offered bigger spaces to ensure that more people can participate in their demonstrations. "We are people who have come out of democracy," Yadav added, stressing that the government is facilitating, not forbidding, the democratic process of protest.