In any society governed by a state apparatus, dissent is the breath of the toiling masses. Throughout history, dissent against the state has been pivotal in driving reforms and revolutions. When citizens speak out against oppressive policies and practices, they amplify marginalized voices and highlight systemic issues. Our Constitution in principle upholds through the Article 19(1)(a), the right to free speech, and Article 19(1)(b) affirms the right to assemble peacefully.
However, the people of Bengaluru are being stripped of this fundamental right. On January 10, 2022, the Karnataka High Court directed the state government to issue a gazette notification known as the “Licensing and Regulation of Protests, Demonstrations and Protest Marches (Bengaluru City) Order, 2021.” While this order claims to manage traffic disruptions caused by protests, its true intent raises serious concerns. Under this regulation, citizens can express their views, opinions, and social concerns only within the confines of Freedom Park—a secluded area removed from public visibility. Since the implementation of this order over a year ago, Freedom Park has become little more than a spectacle, losing its significance as a space for genuine protest.
For the past two years, this law has been wielded to suppress the democratic voices of students, farmers, and workers. Examples include the arrest of Devanahalli farmers fighting against the forced acquisition of their land and the detention of student activists in Fraser Town who gathered to discuss the genocide in Gaza, which has been one of the most egregious human rights violations of this decade. Yet, the people of Bengaluru have not remained silent. Many student activists, human rights advocates, and unionists have consistently criticized the Karnataka government, whether under the BJP or Congress, for endorsing this anti-working-class law while proclaiming to be champions of democracy in Parliament. Despite numerous obstacles, the right to protest movement is gaining momentum, drawing public attention. The Horaatada Hakkigagi Janandolana, a coalition of various social rights organizations, has issued a press statement sharply criticizing this law and urging the government to repeal it. In the run-up to the press conference, a signature campaign was conducted by this coalition to raise awareness about this issue. In just a few days more than 500 signatures were collected.
The right to protest campaign is not just an issue for a few social rights organizations; it is a movement aimed at preserving the democracy of the toiling masses. This fight is to stir the conscience of a state that is becoming increasingly authoritarian. It is a struggle to amplify the voices of the working class voices filled with pain and hardship, that cannot be merely confined to the walls of a park.
