Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Oct 13: Following the Delhi Police's decision to de-notify Jantar Mantar, Ramlila Maidan has been designated as one of the capital's new protest sites. However, staging a demonstration at the 12-acre ground will cost organizers an initial outlay of Rs 1.21 lac per day, with only three dates—December 29, 30, and 31—currently available this year.
Booking the venue, which can accommodate up to 50,000 people, involves a daily fee of Rs 50,000, a refundable security deposit of Rs 55,000, and applicable taxes. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) handles the bookings and requires a mandatory no-objection certificate (NOC) from the police. While a small section of the ground is available free of charge, it can only hold about 150 people.
The steep charges have drawn criticism from activists and citizen groups accustomed to the free access at Jantar Mantar. AAP Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj questioned the feasibility of the new venue, noting its existing packed schedule. "The Ramlila Maidan is occupied with two Ramlilas. How can one hold a protest here? Do they want to create chaos?" he posted on X.
Civic officials echoed these concerns, noting that the ground is heavily booked for upcoming festivals like Dussehra and Diwali. Furthermore, hosting massive rallies in the busy commercial area—surrounded by three hospitals and the MCD headquarters—poses severe traffic challenges. Authorities recalled a 2014 political rally that caused a 4-km traffic snarl up to ITO on a Sunday.
Ramlila Maidan holds a prominent place in India's political history. Once a pond, it was levelled in 1930 and has since hosted iconic gatherings, including Syama Prasad Mookerjee's 1952 satyagraha, Jayaprakash Narayan’s 1975 anti-Emergency rally, addresses by Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi, and Arvind Kejriwal's three swearing-in ceremonies.
Along with Ramlila Maidan, the police have designated Burari Ground in north Delhi and CBD Ground in east Delhi as the other two official protest venues. A revised standard operating procedure for demonstrations at these locations is expected to be issued soon.