The Central district administration has imposed a ban on public meetings, protests and shouting of slogans near Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s residence for next 30 days.
Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) BK Jha yesterday informed that the decision was taken in view of ‘serious and law and order problems’.
An order issued under Section 144 of the CrPC, restricts demonstrations, making of speech by any political party outside Kejriwal’s residence on Flag Staff Road in North Delhi’s Civil Line area.
“Protests need to be prohibited in order to prevent public nuisance, obstruction to traffic and persons, danger to inhuman lives or safety and public property,” the SDM (Civil Lines) said in his order.
“It has been reported that various political parties and pressure groups may hold protests, demonstrations, dharnas, processions etc on political and others issues in front, near or around the residence of the Chief Minister, GNCTD (Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi), which may create serious law & order problems...” the order further said.
The order added that in August, there are many festivals such as Independence Day, Raksha Bandhan, Parsi New Year, Janamasthmi and people in general use to visit the CM and officers residence in festive season.
“Therefore, it is apprehended that any demonstration, protests or dharna etc will create public nuisance and serious law and order problems. It will also cause obstruction to the vehicular traffic movement, danger to human lives and property,” the order stated.
Condemning the move, Delhi BJP president Satish Upadhyay said that it was ‘really shocking’ that such an anti-democratic step of banning demonstrations has been taken by a government whose head once staked his government to demonstrate & obstruct the nation's republic day function.
“It seems the ban has been imposed through SDM as autocrat Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is in no mood to tolerate any democratic demonstration or protest against him,” the BJP leader said.
