14 October,2026 11:36 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Uddhav Thackeray. File Pic
The Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) on Wednesday accused the Centre of institutionalising authoritarianism and restricting public dissent, criticising the Delhi Police's decision to remove Jantar Mantar's long-standing status as a designated venue for demonstrations.
In an editorial published in the party's mouthpiece, Saamana, the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction alleged that the restrictions were aimed at moving protests away from the seat of power and limiting their impact on Parliament and public discourse.
The editorial claimed that under the new police orders, demonstrations had been shifted to locations farther from central Delhi, including Ramlila Maidan, around 4 km away; the CBD Ground in Shahdara, about 12 km away; and Burari Ground, approximately 20 to 21 km away.
The editorial argued that relocating demonstrations to distant venues would make it harder for protesters to draw attention to their demands. It described the decision as a deliberate attempt to prevent public agitation from affecting political discourse in the national capital.
The party also raised concerns about the costs associated with organising demonstrations at alternative venues. According to the editorial, using Ramlila Maidan can cost more than Rs 1.5 lakh per day, while organisers may need to book the venue months in advance. It also claimed that the venue is frequently occupied by religious programmes and events organised by the ruling party.
Contrasting these arrangements with Jantar Mantar, which it described as an accessible venue where demonstrations could be held without fees, the editorial characterised the new financial barriers as an exorbitant "Jizya tax" on those seeking to express opposition.
The Thackeray faction drew parallels with India's freedom struggle, arguing that historic movements had taken place around areas such as Chandni Chowk, Daryaganj and the vicinity of Parliament.
It maintained that peaceful assembly is a constitutionally protected right and alleged that moving protests outside central areas reflected an administrative reluctance to allow dissent near the seat of power.
The editorial also referred to recent political tensions surrounding demonstrations by groups such as the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), which have demanded accountability over electoral integrity. It claimed that these protests were followed by heavy security deployments and preventive detentions in the national capital.
The editorial said opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, had condemned the restrictions. It also referred to legal challenges against the removal of Jantar Mantar's designated protest venue status, which have moved to the Delhi High Court.
The decision has become another point of contention between opposition parties and the Centre over the space available for public demonstrations. The editorial argued that restrictions on protest venues could weaken the ability of citizens and political groups to raise concerns publicly.
Issuing a warning to the Centre, the editorial said, "Jantar Mantar has become a living memorial of agitations. The BJP rule converted a symbol of democracy into a memorial. This memorial of Jantar Mantar will become the tomb of dictatorial tendencies. Naturally, Jantar Mantar will not stay quiet; the present rulers themselves will have to run away."
The Uddhav Thackeray-led faction further claimed that when a government begins to "fear its own public, the countdown to its end has officially begun".
