I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it.” – Voltaire
As we approach our 63rd year of Independence, we proudly call
ourselves the world’s largest democracy. Every adult citizen has the
right to vote out the government. Our Constitution guarantees us
fundamental rights necessary for any civilised society.
Yet, in the heart of our country’s financial capital, we do not have
the freedom to protest in public. All over the city, Sec 144 is
always in force, under which more than 5 persons cannot gether
together to hold any protest. Why?
The living conditions of the majority of Mumbai’s 20 million residents
are disgusting. In fact, the conditions under which the majority of
India’s population lives are hellish. Rising prices of food, takeover
of land for SEZs and malls, displacement of Adivasis, bulldozing of
slums where Mumbai’s labour are forced to live – this is the reality
for the majority. But our government is obsessed with Commonwealth
Games, sea-links for motorists, helipads, second airports.
But can we as citizens come together in the heart of Mumbai – the
area from VT/Churchgate to Mantralay - to protest about this? No. The
seat of government is insulated from the public. No public space in
South Mumbai is available to us to demonstrate peacefully. Where then
is our freedom of expression, our right to assemble peacefully
without arms? Who is threatened when citizens hold a peaceful morcha
or dharna?
All over the world, people can gather to protest peacefully, but not
in the world’s largest democracy! What kind of independence is this?
How can our government justify using, 63 years after Independence, a
law enacted by the British in 1861, to prevent Indians from opposing
them?
Join us in our effort to take back public spaces for the right to
peaceful public protest.
