Heavy security was deployed in Central Delhi ahead of Gujarat MLA & Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani’s 'Yuva Hunkar Rally’ at Parliament Street on 9 January.
Mevani and Assam activist Akhil Gogoi are scheduled to speak at the 'Social Justice' rally. A large section of students from universities and colleges in Delhi, women’s groups, teachers’ associations and activists associated with Mevani from across the country are expected to attend the rally – which is scheduled to begin at noon.
The organisers claim the rally is aimed at shedding light on issues like educational rights, employment, livelihood and gender justice.
Delhi Police Denies Permission
Late on 8 January, the DCP of New Delhi said that Vadgam MLA Jignesh Mevani would not be granted permission to hold a rally on 9 January at Parliament Street in view of the orders placed by the National Green Tribunal. Earlier in the day, the Delhi Police said Mevani's request for holding a rally in Delhi was still "under consideration", even as the organisers insist it will be held on pre-scheduled time. In a tweet, the DCP said:
In 2017, the NGT banned all protests and dharnas around the historic Jantar Mantar area, which has been a hotspot of many agitations over the past decades, alleging that such activities violate environmental laws.
‘Will Hold Rally’
“There have been many attempts to stop this event and even some media houses are spreading wrong information that the permission for the rally has been denied,” organiser and former JNU Students' Union president Mohit Kumar Pandey was quoted as saying.
Ever since the rally was announced on 2 January, "a lot of money has been spent on posters calling Mevani a deshdrohi (traitor) and urban Naxal," Pandey told PTI, adding the event will be held as per schedule.
In a statement, the organisers urged the prospective participants to "assemble on the Parliament Street at 12 pm on Tuesday (9 January)".
The rally organisers say the participants will also seek the release of Dalit outfit Bhim Army’s founder Chandrashekhar Azad. The 30-year-old was arrested in June 2017 from Himachal Pradesh after being named the main accused in the Thakur-Dalit clash in Uttar Pradesh's Saharanpur district.
(This is a developing story and will be updated.)
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