STUDENTS TAKE THE FIGHT TO DELHI’S STREETS, DEMAND RESTORATION OF JANTAR MANTAR AS A PROTEST VENUE

October 13, 2026

NEW DELHI: A student group marched in the national capital demanding the restoration of Jantar Mantar as a designated protest site, opposing its de-notification and raising concerns over the detention of members of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP).

The demonstration highlighted growing objections to restrictions on public protest in Delhi, with participants calling for the preservation of accessible spaces where citizens and organisations can peacefully express dissent. Jantar Mantar has historically served as a prominent venue for demonstrations on political, social and public-interest issues.

The protest also brought attention to the recent detentions involving CJP members, intensifying questions about the treatment of demonstrators and the availability of recognised venues for peaceful assemblies.

The de-notification of Jantar Mantar has become a point of contention amid a wider debate over the regulation of protests in the capital. Student activists argued that removing an established demonstration site could make it more difficult for citizens and organisations to exercise their right to peaceful assembly.

The march reflects mounting pressure on the authorities to reconsider the decision and address concerns surrounding the handling of protesters. The dispute has placed the balance between public-order management and democratic freedoms at the centre of the debate over access to protest spaces in New Delhi.