A thousand slogans echoed here - but it could be the end for iconic Delhi protest site

What the report says

Delhi Police has removed Jantar Mantar from its list of approved protest sites, ending the long-running role of the 18th-century observatory area as a central stage for demonstrations in the capital, according to BBC World News. The site, near India’s parliament, has hosted major rallies and smaller sit-ins for decades, including campaigns by farmers, students, grieving families and activists seeking to pressure the government from close range.

The BBC reports that the change follows recent protests led by the Gen Z-linked Cockroach Janta Party, which drew large crowds and was followed by police barricades around the area. A later attempt by supporters to march back to the site, this time over demands involving India’s election chief, ended in a police crackdown. Authorities have told protesters to use three alternative locations instead.

Critics say the new venues are either much farther from parliament or expensive to book, which could make sustained protest harder for ordinary people. Delhi Police said it acted after the Supreme Court suggested identifying other places with suitable infrastructure. The report notes that Jantar Mantar has previously faced restrictions before: a tribunal ordered it shut to protests in 2017, but the Supreme Court reversed that decision in 2018, citing constitutional rights to free speech and peaceful assembly.

For many activists, the site mattered not only for visibility but also for access to media, politicians and other campaigners. Its loss may mark a broader shift in how dissent is managed in Delhi, even though protests in India continue to move across other public spaces.