New Delhi, Oct 13 The Students’ Federation of India (SFI) and the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) on Tuesday condemned the denotification of Jantar Mantar as a designated protest site, calling it a blow to democratic dissent and the constitutional right to peaceful assembly.
In a joint press release, the outfits said they would mobilise students, youth and democratic forces to reclaim Jantar Mantar, a historic symbol of people’s struggles and democratic resistance.
The outfits said workers, farmers, students, youth and marginalised communities have gathered there for decades to demand justice, accountability, employment, education and social equality.
The right to protest is a fundamental right, and restrictions on designated protest sites can shrink the space for democratic dissent, they asserted.
The Left-backed student groups also pledged to intensify their campaign against alleged vote theft until Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar resigns and faces prosecution.
The statement bore the signatures of DYFI president A A Rahim, SFI president Adarsh M Saji, DYFI general secretary Himaghnaraj Bhattacharyya and SFI general secretary Srijan Bhattacharyya.
(PTI News)
