RIGHT TO REACT

RIGHT TO REACT
Deccan Herald

Government proposes separate protest space; protestors swear by the right to oppose


Mass conventions and protest rallies have for long been identified with chaotic traffic pile-ups in Bangalore. After the Shivajinagar rally on January 19 to protest the execution of Saddam Hussein, and the subsequent violence that triggered another riot after the Virat Hindu Convention on January 21, they are flashing a new, dangerous edge.

As the administrators turn back to the old question – should protests and rallies be allowed in core city areas with constant residential or commercial activity? – the protestors have a retort. Protestors are being accused of disrupting public life, but are protestors not part of the same public?

“The question is, who are the real citizens of Bangalore? If residents of an area are hit by inadequate water supply and take to the streets in protest, should they be branded as people who disrupt public life?” wonders Mr Selva, Secretary – People’s Union for Civil Liberties Karnataka (PUCL-K).

M Manjunatha, President – Adarsha Auto and Taxi Drivers Union says the onus lies with the police, while giving the go-ahead for the protests. “We are against curbs on protests. The police should thoroughly screen the requests for clearance and credentials of the protesting groups before-hand. By allocating a separate space, they can only discipline a few unruly protestors while by and large, protests in Bangalore have been peaceful,” he says. Manjunatha also asks a pertinent question: “Will the politicians also confine their protests to this dedicated space?”

Room for all: Home Minister M P Prakash is already pursuing the potential of a dedicated protest space. He told Deccan Herald that the Government was open to the concept because it made sense at a time when people wanted to protest even in front of Vidhana Soudha. “Earlier, protestors used to gather around at Cubbon Park, but such protests disturb the tranquillity of the park. It will serve us better if we can identify such a space within the City limits itself,” he says.

On reports of the Government considering a ban on mass protest rallies in the City, the Home Minister says a meeting of senior police officers was scheduled after the riots broke out, to discuss the possibilities of such a ban. However, the meeting had to be postponed because the situation was still tense. “A decision on the proposal to ban conventions and rallies will be taken only after analysing the possible consequences,” he says.



COPING WITH IT

The Bangalore City Police cleared 2,148 protests/rallies/conventions in 2006. That is close to six protests everyday. This, apart from dealing with 1,671 VIP/VVIP visits through the year. Already grappling with the numbers, the police have also requested the Government to allocate a dedicated space to hold protests in the City. “Such a space will help us keep a better tab on the protests and will also rid the City of possibility of violence,” says City Commissioner of Police N Achutha Rao.

PROTEST POCKETS

Protestors zero in on locations with visibility and proximity to administrative offices. High Court, Cubbon Park (with Press Club in the neighbourhood) and Vidhana Soudha have traditionally been their favoured spots. The Mahatma Gandhi statue on MG Road is also preferred for small-group protests and night vigils. In other southern state capitals, too, protests are by and large staged near the Secretariats and other government offices. While protests and rallies disrupt traffic in Chennai and Hyderabad, the scene in Thiruvananthapuram is even more chaotic. In Bangalore, violence following protests and rallies is not quite the norm, but the government is not taking chances. “We want to create a dedicated space for protests on the lines of Hyde Park (the Central London park identified with peaceful protests). The location has to be close to government offices and departments, so that protestors can later meet the officials concerned,” says Mr Prakash.The challenge ahead of the Government will be two-pronged: a) earmarking an area large enough to host the protests within the City and b) ensuring that the protests remain peaceful.