The expression of dissent forms the very fabric of social change in any society. Protests have played a crucial role in shaping the course of history. It is through social movements that people have secured their basic rights and dignity. However, the suppression of dissent in India through various means exposes the farce that the Indian democracy is. The “Licensing and Regulation of Protests, Demonstrations and Protest Marches (Bengaluru City) Order, 2021”, that came into effect in January 2022 bans all protests outside the boundaries of Freedom Park (which used to be the Central Jail, ironically). It is a direct assault on the democratic voices of the masses. From the arrest of Devanahalli farmers rallying against forceful land acquisition to the violent detention of activists gathered in Frazer Town to discuss the genocide in Palestine, the state government with the support of Karnataka High Court has been using this order to restrict any public political gatherings in Bengaluru and curtail the rights of workers, farmers and students.
Recently, the Secret Santa fiasco in Cubbon Reads gained a lot of public attention, where a security guard confiscated a bunch of books that readers had brought to exchange. A TheNewsMinute article reveals many instances where the police and the Horticulture Department restricted readings and gatherings in Cubbon Park, stated their lack of permission and asked them to go to Freedom Park. In the 20th century, this very place was a freely accessible space that saw militant protests and rallies by Dalits, farmers, and trade unions demanding accountability from the government.
On 31st December 2024, All India Students Association, as part of Horatadaa Hakkigaagi Janandolana (People’s Movement for the Right to Protest), submitted a memorandum with 1,761 signatures from students across Bengaluru to the Education and Home Departments, demanding to revoke the ban on protests. Public spaces like Cubbon Park, Town Hall, Mysore Bank Circle which have a rich history of people’s resistance belong to the people. As concerned citizens, we must come together to reclaim our public space and resist the efforts of the government to silence our voices.
