Jantar Mantar protest ban suits Centre, alleges CPI

"Democracy is at risk. There is an increasing attack on the fundamental and constitutional rights of the people. There is no space (for people) to raise their voice.

New Delhi, November 01: The Communist Party of India (CPI) alleged that the Centre had not challenged the National Green Tribunal's ruling banning all protests at the Jantar Mantar as it wanted to gag the opposition voices.

"Democracy is at risk. There is an increasing attack on the fundamental and constitutional rights of the people. There is no space (for people) to raise their voice.

"Its suits the government. They do not want people to raise their voice against it. The government should have appealed against the ruling," CPI leader D Raja said today.

He alleged that the Narendra Modi government of "suppressing dissent against it everywhere in the country".

"Not only in Delhi but in places like Telangana, Hyderabad, the government is behaving in the same way by attacking the people's movement. It is a political drama being played by the NDA government," the Left leader said.

In November, the national capital is going to witness a series of protests.

Tomorrow, farmers are scheduled to protest at the Jantar Mantar against the government. The protest is being organised by the Left farmers' unions.

On November 8, opposition parties have decided to observe black day against demonetisation and from November 9 to 11, the Left trade unions have called a three-day 'dharna' at the Jantar Mantar.

The Left party has urged all the political parties, including the opposition parties, to chalk out their plans and take legal advice on how to challenge the NGT order.

PTI