So what if India Gate is not accessible?
25 Dec 2012 12:14 AM GMT
After Delhi police made most areas of Lutyens’ Delhi off-limit for demonstrations, protesters continued to agitate at Jantar Mantar on Monday. But the crowd has thinned considerably compared to the last two days when the police had to use water cannons and tear gas shells against them at Rajpath and India Gate.
The protesters on Monday at Jantar Mantar consisted of various women groups, some NGOs, school children, middle-aged persons and some student organisations and were constantly under the watchful eyes of the security forces. The entire area had been barricaded by the police, who were present in good numbers in and around Jantar Mantar.
The police closed India Gate since early morning. The 2.5 km stretch between India Gate and Rashtrapati Bhavan was barricaded for traffic. Sources said that it was done in view of Russian President Vladimir Putin visit to Prime MInister Manmohan Singh’s Race Course Road residence in the morning and then a series of meetings taking place at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
The slogans at Jantar Mantar varied from ‘We want Justice’ to ‘Women want Freedom’ to ‘Hang the rapists’ to ‘Delhi police hai hai.’ The protesters criticised the attitude of the Delhi police, disapproved of the Prime Minister’s speech, criticised home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde for his naxalite comment. They also condemned the government’s move to shut nine Delhi Metro stations to stop them from coming to India Gate.
‘The government is thinking how to prevent people from coming to the protests and this is the reason many Delhi Metro stations have been closed. But this is not going to work. We would keep continue protesting till something concrete is done by the government on the issue of rapes and safety of women,’ said Rachna Chaudhary, a college student.
Protesters also said that they wanted to protest peacefully and did not want to resort to any kind of violence but it was also the duty of the police to make sure that they do not cross the lines.
Later in the day, protesters were busy spreading the word by talking to their friends and relatives to drop in at the protest site to show their solidarity and by the late afternoon, the number had started to grow.
Meanwhile, Delhi police has registered a case against yoga guru Baba Ramdev and former army chief Gen V K Singh for inciting mob and provoking crowd at Jantar Mantar because of the clashes between their supporters and the police during the protest against the gangrape. Singh had shared the dias with Ramdev at Jantar Mantar on Sunday and were prevented from marching towards India Gate.
CALL ‘181’ FOR HELP
Telecom Ministry on Monday announced a three-digit women helpline number ‘181’. This initiative to help women in distress was taken by Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit. The number allotted to the city government is being set up in the CM’s office at Delhi Secretariat. It will be made operational before 31 December.
The protesters on Monday at Jantar Mantar consisted of various women groups, some NGOs, school children, middle-aged persons and some student organisations and were constantly under the watchful eyes of the security forces. The entire area had been barricaded by the police, who were present in good numbers in and around Jantar Mantar.
The police closed India Gate since early morning. The 2.5 km stretch between India Gate and Rashtrapati Bhavan was barricaded for traffic. Sources said that it was done in view of Russian President Vladimir Putin visit to Prime MInister Manmohan Singh’s Race Course Road residence in the morning and then a series of meetings taking place at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
The slogans at Jantar Mantar varied from ‘We want Justice’ to ‘Women want Freedom’ to ‘Hang the rapists’ to ‘Delhi police hai hai.’ The protesters criticised the attitude of the Delhi police, disapproved of the Prime Minister’s speech, criticised home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde for his naxalite comment. They also condemned the government’s move to shut nine Delhi Metro stations to stop them from coming to India Gate.
‘The government is thinking how to prevent people from coming to the protests and this is the reason many Delhi Metro stations have been closed. But this is not going to work. We would keep continue protesting till something concrete is done by the government on the issue of rapes and safety of women,’ said Rachna Chaudhary, a college student.
Protesters also said that they wanted to protest peacefully and did not want to resort to any kind of violence but it was also the duty of the police to make sure that they do not cross the lines.
Later in the day, protesters were busy spreading the word by talking to their friends and relatives to drop in at the protest site to show their solidarity and by the late afternoon, the number had started to grow.
Meanwhile, Delhi police has registered a case against yoga guru Baba Ramdev and former army chief Gen V K Singh for inciting mob and provoking crowd at Jantar Mantar because of the clashes between their supporters and the police during the protest against the gangrape. Singh had shared the dias with Ramdev at Jantar Mantar on Sunday and were prevented from marching towards India Gate.
CALL ‘181’ FOR HELP
Telecom Ministry on Monday announced a three-digit women helpline number ‘181’. This initiative to help women in distress was taken by Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit. The number allotted to the city government is being set up in the CM’s office at Delhi Secretariat. It will be made operational before 31 December.
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