Tag: jantar mantar protest

Watch | At Jantar Mantar, Kukis Protest Delay in Arrests Against Manipur Sexual Abuse Accused

Over a thousand members of the Kuki community gathered at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar Road. They raised slogans such as “President’s Rule”, “Hang the Rapist” and “Communal CM Must Step Down”.

New Delhi: On the afternoon of Saturday, July 22, over a thousand members of the Kuki community gathered at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. Only a few protestors were allowed to speak with the media, while the rest held banners spelling out their individual voices.

A day before parliament’s monsoon session, a video of Kuki women being paraded naked and sexually assaulted by a mob went viral. The women claimed that the mob belonged to the Meitei community.

The incident occurred on May 4, a day after violence erupted in Manipur. So far, five men and one juvenile in connection with the group seen in the video have been arrested by Manipur police. Manipur chief minister N. Biren Singh stated, “The state government will try to ensure capital punishment for the accused.”

Upon seeing the video, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also addressed the nation, expressing his shame on behalf of civil society. He vowed that the law would take its strongest steps to bring justice over what happened to the “daughters of Manipur” and that such actions could never be forgiven.

Speaking to The Wire, Hevi, one of the protestors said, “If Modi wanted to stop the violence in our state, he could have done it in 30 minutes, but he didn’t.”

Also Read: Narendra Modi Talked About the Manipur Violence. But Did He Really?

The protesters also questioned the Manipur police’s involvement in the violence, as both the women seen in the video alleged that policemen were present when the incident occurred.

Hevi stressed that the arrest of five people [as of the time she spoke with The Wire] was not enough, as more than 200 men were involved in the May 4 incident.

The demand for a separate administration and a separate land continued both in Delhi and Manipur by members of the Kuki community.

Another protestor, Rum, called the state’s violence as state-sponsored and criticised the delay in arresting the accused despite an FIR having been registered earlier (on May 18). Rum doubted whether the police would conduct any further investigation.

During the protest, members of the Kuki community raised slogans such as “Respect Tribal Rights”, “President’s Rule”, “Manipur Police, were you sleeping for the last 80 days?”, “Hang the rapist” and “Communal CM Must Step Down”.

Glady, another protestor at Jantar Mantar, pointed out that the violence had been going on for more than two months in Manipur and the prime minister spoke up only after the video went viral. She urged people to think about the incidents for which no video evidence was available, emphasising that this was the harsh reality of Manipur.

Grace, a different protestor, clarified that while she was angry with the mobs, her anger was not directed at the entire Meitei community.

Two days before, on July 21, another protest took place in Manipur’s Churachandpur and Kangpokpi districts, with over 5,000 people from the Kuki community expressing their concerns about the current situation in Manipur.

Social activist Ginza Vualzong criticised the prime minister’s delayed response, questioning how many more viral videos were needed to make him focus on Manipur. Ginza also referred to many gruesome incidents that remain unknown to the outside world.

Watch | Delhi: Activists Stage Protests Against Early Release of Bilkis Bano Rape Convicts

The protesters pointed out that the arrest of activists and now the early release of those who committed widespread violence against Muslims highlights the majoritarian surge against the minorities in India.

Left parties, student groups and activists on Friday, August 19 held a protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, demanding cancellation of the remission order of those convicted for the gang-rape of Gujarat riots survivor Bilkis Bano.

The protesters pointed out that the arrest of activists such as Teesta Setalvad and now the early release of those who committed widespread violence against Muslims highlights the majoritarian surge against the minorities in India.

Over 500 MGNREGA Workers Protest Against Delay in Wage Payments at Jantar Mantar

The workers spoke about the persistent delays in wage payments, how they did not get work when they demanded it, and how no compensation was provided when they were injured or even killed at the workplace.

New Delhi: More than 500 Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) workers from across 15 states gathered at Jantar Mantar in the national capital on Wednesday, August 3, to protest against the delayed wage payments and other concerns related to the implementation of the scheme.

Workers from Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand, Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Karnataka were present on the second day of the dharna. NREGA Sangharsh Morcha (NSM) – a national platform of workers’ collectives, trade unions, organisations and individuals – spoke to the workers protesting at Jantar Mantar.

They told NSM about the persistent delays in wage payments, how they did not get work when they demanded it, and how no compensation was provided when workers were injured or even killed at the workplace.

Many of them raised concerns regarding the introduction of the NMMS app, which was launched in May last year to ensure proper monitoring of MGNREGA schemes and taking real-time attendance of workers at the sites. NMMS stands for National Mobile Monitoring System.

As per news reports, many workers have lost wages due to technical glitches in the app. The compulsion to use the app has led to frustration among many. For instance, some women have had to take loans to buy a smartphone. Added to that, they also have to pay for the data package every month.

Mandvi, an MGNREGA worker from Bihar, asked the government to end “Ram Mandir politics” and ensure food security in the country. Many workers also spoke about the difficulties in affording even two meals a day due to high inflation, adding that the cost of an LPG cylinder has jumped to more than Rs 1,000.

Also read: ‘Continued Govt Assault on NREGA’: Workers’ Rights Bodies on Revised Wage Rates

The protesters demanded to universalise the public distribution system (PDS), and that PDS must include pulses, millets and oil. They also asked that the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) must be extended till such time as the pandemic continues.

Currently, more than Rs 21,850 crore of wages are pending since April 2020, of which Rs 6,800 crore of wages are pending for this year alone.

In West Bengal, no wages have been processed since December 2021 and the current dues are above Rs 2,500 crore.

A statement released by NSM said that an analysis of 18 lakh wage invoices of the first half of the financial year 2021-22 showed that only 29% of payments were processed within the mandated seven-day period by the Government of India.

It further said that there is enough evidence suggesting that inadequate funds allocation leads to delays in payment of wages. As of July 31, 66.4% of the NREGA budget has already been spent with eight months remaining in this financial year.

Added to that, the Morcha raised another issue – corruption. Social audits have been mandated primarily to curtail corruption. However, funds for social audits have been curbed by the government itself, said Rakshita Swamy of SAFAR and Karuna M. of PHM Tamil Nadu.

D. Raja, the general secretary of the Communist Party of India and Kavita Krishnan of the Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation attended the dharna and endorsed all the demands.

Meanwhile, several workers’ delegations visited the members of parliament of their states to share their grievances and demands, NSM said in its statement. The memoranda and the charter of demands were presented to R. Krishnaiah (YSRCP), Uttam Kumar Reddy (INC), Dhiraj Sahu (INC), Diya Kumari (BJP) and Jagannath Sarkar (BJP). The documents were also submitted to the Samajwadi Party’s office. Some of these MPs expressed their support and promised to raise this issue in parliament.

Watch | Jantar Mantar Protest: Hindus Must Speak Up Against the Politics of Hate

Sumedha Pal spoke to students, artists, teachers and common citizens ƒrom different walks who gathered at Jantar Mantar on April 16 to protest communal violence.

Students, artists, teachers and common citizens of different sections of Delhi gathered at Jantar Mantar on April 16 against the continuous attacks on Muslims in the name of hijab, meat and the communal clashes on Ram Navami in several states. They appealed to Hindus to support Muslims and speak up against the politics of hate.

Note: This video was shot on April 16.

In Photos | Hope, Anger and Democracy at the Mahila Kisan Sansad

For months, farmers have been demanding that the Central farm laws should be repealed.

After months of protests at the borders of Delhi, farmers were finally allowed to enter the national capital. With the monsoon session of parliament underway, a Kisaan Sansad (farmers’ parliament) of 200 people is also being held parallelly at Jantar Mantar. Though it is located only 1.6 km away from the Parliament House, none of the 788 members of the lower and upper houses are interested in visiting the Kisan Sansad.

Hundreds of police officers, armed with lathis, have been deployed at the site.

Heavily police deployment at the Kisan Sansad. Photo: Yaqut Ali

On July 26, women farmers took centre stage. It was the day of the ‘Mahila Kisan Sansad’. I saw 200 female voices speaking with courage in front of hundreds of media persons and police officers.

Also Read: ‘If Food Isn’t Essential, What Is?’: Women Farmers Have Questions – and Answers – for Modi Govt

For the past eight months, many of the farmers have been camped on roads. For the past ten-odd days, they arrive at Jantar Mantar at 11 am to conduct their Sansad. Before leaving the Singhu border, every farmer has to show their ID cards given by union leaders. The farmers do not want a repeat of the violence that was witnessed on Republic Day, which they blame on ‘anti-social’ elements. The violence almost derailed the movement, but it has nevertheless persisted.

Once they arrive for the Sansad, the farmers discuss the pros and cons of the new farm laws. They hope that their voices will be heard in the ‘real parliament’.

Media persons at the Mahila Kisan Sansad. Photo: Yaqut Ali

As the clock strikes two, lunch arrives from the Bangla Sahib Gurudwara. I walk around to speak to activists. Some of them are senior citizens and their conviction to the cause of farmers and democracy is inspiring.

Activist Megha Patkar speaking to The Wire, said, “This Sansad is a challenge to the government. The Narendra Modi government’s plans to allow contract farming will harm the farmers and be profitable for businessmen. The protest has been ongoing for eight months. If necessary, like the Narmada Andolan which lasted 36 years, it can go on for many years.”

Medha Patkar at the Mahila Kisan Sansad. Photo: Yaqut Ali

Gul Panag, an actress and the daughter of an Army officer, told The Wire, “I’m from an Army family, which is very common in UP and Punjab. But this cruel government keeps calling us anti-national, terrorists. How can they call the annadata these words?”

Gul Panag at the Mahila Kisan Sansad. Photo: Yaqut Ali

Darshan Pal, who participated in 11 rounds of talks with the government, told The Wire, “When we first came to the border, we did not think the government would ignore us like this. This is heartbreaking, not only for me but for the entire nation. Many farmers have died, we’re having farming losses. They must listen to us.”

Farmer leader Darshan Pal. Photo: Yaqut Ali

A woman who is ill gets treated at the Kisan Sansad. Photo: Yaqut Ali

The day’s Sansad ended with the National Anthem, as it does every day. The women who participated in the Sansad left in the buses, followed by the police, with the hope that their message will be heard.

Women who participated in the Mahila Sansad on their way back to the Singhu border. Photo: Yaqut Ali

Watch | Farmers’ Protests: All-Women Brigade Holds Kisan Sansad at Jantar Mantar

Farmers have been demonstrating during the Monsoon Session of the parliament, to draw attention to eight months of their protest.

On July 26, 2021, more than 200 women farmers held an historic protest at the Jantar Mantar as part of the Kisan Sansad, which aims to draw attention to eight months of the farmers’ movement against the contentious laws.

The Wire’s Arfa Khanum Sherwani speaks to the participants.

Nearly 200 Women Farmers Gather at Jantar Mantar for ‘Kisan Sansad’

Neetu Khanna, a farmer leader, said it is shameful that the government is mistreating farmers when “they are the ones who keep the country alive”.

New Delhi: Nearly 200 women farmers from Delhi’s neighbouring states of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana gathered at Jantar Mantar in the national capital for a ‘Kisan Sansad’ on Monday to continue the agitation against the Centre’s contentious agricultural laws.

They raised slogans demanding scrapping of the three farm laws – the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; Farmers’ (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020; and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.

The focus of Monday’s ‘Kisan Sansad’ was the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020 and the farmers’ demand for the enactment of a law guaranteeing remunerative minimum support price (MSP) for their crops.

The women’s ‘Kisan Sansad’ was moderated by politician and speaker Subhasini Ali. It commenced with the singing of the national anthem, followed by the observation of a two-minute silence in the memory of the farmers who have died during the eight-month agitation.

“Today’s ‘sansad’ will showcase the strength of women. Women can farm as well run the country, and today everybody here is a politician,” Ali said.

Also read: Farm Laws: Rahul Gandhi Drives Tractor to Parliament; Police Cracks Down on Protesting Politicians

Asserting that the farmers protest against the three “black laws” and their demand for MSP will continue, she said, “The government keeps calling us (farmers) by different names like terrorists, Khalistanis, etc. but if they have the strength, then they should not eat the food produced by these terrorists and Khalistanis.”

Neetu Khanna, a farmer leader, said it is shameful that the government is mistreating farmers when “they are the ones who keep the country alive”.

“I would like to put forward the demand for a legal guarantee for MSP because if we don’t have MSP, the common man will suffer,” she said.

Another participant, Nav Kiran, demanded the withdrawal of the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, claiming it is “anti-woman, anti-poor, and anti-common man”.

Explaining how the law is anti-woman, she said, “We have seen how the prices of cooking oil and cooking gas have gone up because of this law. It will not allow women the scope to save whatever little money they could manage to earlier from their monthly expenses.”

Also read: How to Cage a Protest: Notes From Day One of the Kisan Sansad

The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act deregulates food items like cereals, pulses, oilseeds, edible oils, onion and potatoes by removing them from the list of essential commodities.

The amendments to the six-and-half-decade law provide that stock holding limit on commodities will only be imposed under exceptional circumstances like national calamities, famine with a surge in prices, the government had said in Parliament last year.

The government had said the amendments will boost investment in the agriculture sector and will also create more storage capacities to reduce post-harvest loss of crops.

Actress and activist Gul Panag, who also attended the ‘Kisan Sansad’, said with the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, the government has made the original law passed in 1955 “toothless”.

“The new law will promote hoarding and black marketing. What people are not understanding is that this new law will not affect the farmers but the middle class,” she said.

“Also, we are not interested in amendments made to the laws that were not made through due process. These laws have to be repealed,” she added.

The ‘Kisan Sansad’ is part of the farmers’ agitation against the agricultural laws. As part of ‘Kisan Sansad’, farmers from the protest sites at Delhi borders, where they have been camping since November last year, have been gathering at Jantar Mantar to raise their voices against the agricultural laws while the Parliament’s Monsoon session is underway.

Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal has given special permission for the demonstration by a maximum of 200 farmers at Jantar Mantar, a few metres away from the Parliament complex, till August 9.

(PTI)

Over 50 Farmer, Labour, Rights Organisations Stage Protest Against ‘Anti-People’ Budget

Protesters said that instead of addressing issues like stagnant incomes and high inflation, the budget had reduced allocations for key welfare schemes.

New Delhi: Several organisations came together on Wednesday to stage a protest against the 2020-21 budget calling it ‘anti-people’ at the Jantar Mantar in Delhi. They said that the budget failed to recognise and address the problems being faced by the poor and the underprivileged and, in fact, took steps in the opposite direction by reducing allocations for key welfare schemes. Over 50 organisations, which work for the rights of farmers, labourers and on issues of food security, health, education and employment, came together for the protest.

The protesters criticised the government for not addressing the twin problems of stagnant incomes and the more recent, high rates of inflation. “Taking the rate of inflation into account, there is barely any increase in the funds for the anganwadi, maternity benefits and the mid-day meal programmes,” a press statement released by the organisations said.

The protesters also said that the government ought to have increased spending in order to drive consumption demand to revive the stumbling economy. Unemployment which was at a 45 year high according to a leaked NSSO report last year was also highlighted. The organisations said that the government has done little to address the problem of joblessness in the country.

In fact, in this budget, the government has allocated less money than it expects to spend this year under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) – the key scheme which provides a period of minimum assured employment in rural India.

Watch | ‘Budget 2020 Not What Economy Needs, Centre Seems in Denial’: Shankar Acharya

According to the revised estimated for 2019-20, the government has apportioned Rs 71,000 crore to be spent under MGNREGA till March 2020. But, has only allocated Rs 61,500 crore for 2020-21, effectively reducing the allocation.

The organisations also expressed resentment against the massive cut in food subsidy by Rs 70,000 crore arguing that it puts at risk two things – availability of food at affordable prices for all and remunerative prices for crops.

Arguing that the allocations under health have been readjusted to allocate more money for Ayushman scheme in order to ‘benefit private insurers’. The protesters argued that the government is ignoring its obligations towards primary health care.

Congress MP Rajeev Gowda who was present at the protest said, “Only four Gujaratis are enjoying this government and the budget. Two are in Parliament and the other two are called Ambani. For everyone else, the budget and the coffers are empty.”

“We need an economic policy that addresses people’s needs: raises the minimum wage, raises the minimum support price and increases and expand expenditure on food security, employment guarantee, universal access to healthcare, universal high quality public education, an old age pension and a strong and robust public sector,” the press statement of the organisations said.

‘Who Will Be a Citizen?’: Hundreds Protest the CAA at Jantar Mantar

Live portraits from Jantar Mantar where activists, students, lawyers, artists and common people gathered to raise their voice against the Citizenship Amendment Act.

An eight-year-old Muslim girl from Gurgaon climbed up a stage to address a huge gathering at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi.

“One day, my friend called me a Pakistani because I am a Muslim. I told him that I am not. I am from Gurgaon, India and not from Pakistan. I am here to tell you all that I am an Indian,” she said and the crowd clapped in unison. Many raised posters which read: ‘Roll Back the CAA’, ‘Save the Constitution’, ‘No to CAB’.

Hundreds of activists, students, artists and common citizens had gathered in the national capital to register their protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. This Act will give citizenship to persecuted people from six communities – except Muslims – from Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan, provided they have lived in India for six years.

I made these live paintings capturing the anger and the rage of those who were protesting.

A Song of Love For a Time Filled With Hatred

Iqbal’s iconic Urdu poem ‘Lab pe aati hai dua’ made its presence felt at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar during Diwali celebrations.

New Delhi: School going Khilkhil Bhashanandini and her friends were surprised when they first heard the news that a headmaster had been suspended for allegedly making his students recite the poem, Lab pe aati hai dua.

“We were taken aback when we heard that a school headmaster has been suspended because of this poem. This was a poem we grew up listening to and reciting in our schools and elsewhere,” Khilkhil told The Wire, adding that “there is nothing objectionable in this poem. Instead, it emphasises peace and unity”.

She believes a poem like this is a symbol of light in the time of hate. Khilkhil, who is a Class 12 student of a private school of the National Capital Region therefore decided to sing this song during a Diwali celebration programme at Jantar Mantar on Saturday. Two of her friends, Sakhi and Sehar, studying in Class 10 and Class 7 respectively, sang along.

According to a report on Indian Express, the district administration of Uttar Pradesh’s Pilibhit suspended Furqan Ali, the headmaster of a government primary school in Bisalpur area earlier this month, following a complaint by local Vishwa Hindi Parishad (VHP) workers, alleging that the teacher made students recite a ‘religious prayer’ (Lab pe aati hai dua) during the morning assembly. The poem was written by Mohammed Iqbal, who also wrote the often-sung Saare jahan se achha, Hindustan hamara.

Also read: UP Headmaster Suspended After VHP Complains of Iqbal’s Iconic Song Sung in Assembly

Protesting against the suspension of their headmaster, the students of the school walked out from their classes. Later, Uttar Pradesh basic education minister, Satish Chandra Dwivedi, told the newspaper that the suspension should not have taken place without the collection of all the facts. Dwivedi also said Ali’s suspension would be revoked soon.

When Khilkhil came to know that her mother will be attending the Jantar Mantar programme, she corralled and friends and decided to sing the very song that the poem gave birth to. “When everything is being seen either through the lens of whether one is ‘pro-Modi’ or ‘anti-national’, singing songs like these becomes very important because they symbolise unity and love,” she said from the sidelines of the event.

“This is important for creating unity as well as awareness in the society,” she added.

Members of Sangwari theatre group sing ‘Lab pe aati hai dua’ at Jantar Mantar. Photo: The Wire

Saturday afternoon, more than a hundred people belonging to various religious communities and professions, gathered at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar to celebrate Mohabbat wali Diwali (‘Diwali of Love’). This was a continuation of Eid celebrations organised at the same venue in August. The idea behind both the programmes was the celebration of these festivals together and the extension of solidarity to the people of Kashmir, who have been under siege since Article 370 was read down. As they had for Eid celebrations, Kashmiri men and women also participated in Saturday’s events, though in far fewer numbers than last time.     

“I am thankful to the organisers for this. Initiatives like these give us hope that insaniyat abhi bhi zinda hai (‘humanity is still alive’). There are people who still care about us,” said Areej Safvi, a Kashmiri student while speaking at the event.

Another Kashmiri, while adding that events like these affirmed their belief that there was a difference between the government and the ordinary people of India, said, “I can’t go back home as I fear that if I go back, I will be detained under the draconian PSA.”

Several Kashmiri people who spoke at the event said that all claims of normalcy in Kashmir were a farce.

Khilkhil was not the only one who sang this particular song. In fact, the event began with this very song sung by the Sangwari theatre group, led by Kapil Sharma.


As a mark of how deeply the song pervades Indian culture, unlike Khilkhil and her friends, Kapil was not even aware that this poem had been written by Mohammad Iqbal. “Not that I had not heard of the poem but I wasn’t aware that it was written by Iqbal,” he told The Wire.

“I remember hearing this poem at least twice before. The first time I had heard ‘Lab pe aati hai dua’ was at a church many years ago and the second time was here at Jantar Mantar, but it was sung by students of a missionary school and hence I had assumed it to be a hymn.”

News of the headmaster’s suspension, however, stirred Kapil who instantly decided to include this poem in his theatre activities. When his group received an invitation to perform at the event, he told the organisers that their first performance would begin with a rendering of  Lab pe aati hai dua. For a few months at least, the group has decided to start with this poem wherever and whenever they perform.“We will make sure that this goes on to become a song of resistance,” he added.

One is reminded of a poem titled ‘Dharm hai’ by noted Hindi poet and lyricist, Gopaldas Neeraj.

The concluding stanza of this poem reads:

‘Jab geet gana gunguna jurm ho
tab geet gana gunguna dharm hai’

(‘When it is a crime to mutter and sing songs,
then it becomes our religious duty to do so’).

Perhaps this is what Khilkhil, her friends, and the members of Sangwari Theatre group are trying to do in their own way.