From Boat Club to Jantar Mantar: How Delhi Protest Map Has Evolved
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Forbes India•13-10-2026, 18:33
From Boat Club to Jantar Mantar: How Delhi Protest Map Has Evolved
- •Delhi Police removed Jantar Mantar from the list of designated protest venues on October 11, naming Ramlila Maidan, Burari Ground, and CBD Ground as alternatives.
- •Ramlila Maidan has historically hosted massive rallies, including the opposition gathering on the eve of the 1975 Emergency and Anna Hazare's 2011 anti-corruption fasts.
- •The Boat Club lawns near India Gate were famous for massive gatherings like the 1988 farmer agitations led by Mahendra Singh Tikait, after which demonstrations were restricted.
- •Jantar Mantar emerged as a popular protest hub in 1993, hosting landmark demonstrations including the 2015 OROP agitation and the 2023 wrestlers protest.
- •India Gate and Raisina Hill became focal points for intense public anger and safety protests following the December 2012 gang rape case.
Key Questions Answered
Following a fresh standing order issued by Delhi Police, Jantar Mantar was removed from the list of approved demonstration sites. Ramlila Maidan, Burari Ground, and CBD Ground in East Delhi have been designated as the three alternative venues for public protests.
The decision to denotify Jantar Mantar and establish new protest locations was made based on the recommendations of a committee constituted by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Anna Hazare held his anti-corruption rallies at Ramlila Maidan in August 2011 after initially beginning his fast at Jantar Mantar earlier that year in April.
