The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday said the National Green Tribunal (NGT) should reconsider its decision to shift Delhi’s designated protest site from Jantar Mantar to Ramlila Maidan.
Senior party leader Dilip Pandey said Jantar Mantar is synonymous with the country’s democracy, the voice of people’s protest against the seat of the government demanding answers for their actions.
“The futile reason behind shifting the protest site from Jantar Mantar is noise pollution. This must be reconsidered by the NGT. Jantar Mantar has a historic significance and this needs to be protected,” he said.
Seat of power
He said Jantar Mantar is not a densely populated residential area, unlike Ramlila Maidan, thus the reason behind noise pollution affecting people at Jantar Mantar does not hold true. He also said that demonstrations happen at the seat of power. “This shifting of the demonstration site away from the seat of power seems to be a ploy by the ‘king's quarters’ which has been stifling all voices in the past and wants to destroy any kind of dissent,” he said.
Quoting socialist leader Ram Manohar Lohia, Mr. Pandey said Parliament will go haywire if the streets become so silent. He said the AAP respects the NGT’s concerns and their work towards maintaining clean environmental practices.