Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit wants restrictions on peaceful protests lifted

NEW DELHI: Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has asked Home Minister SushilKumar Shinde to lift restrictions on holding peaceful demonstration in memory of the 23-year-old gang-rape victim in and around India Gate.

Anticipating protests, police had closed the area around India Gate and Raisina Hills for the public besides putting barricades on all roads leading to the two places.

"The Chief Minister feels there should not be any restrictions on holding peaceful demonstrations in and around India Gate," highly-placed sources said.

They said the Chief Minister's views on the issue have been conveyed to the Home Minister.

A large number of police personnel were deployed at Rajpath, the stretch connecting India Gate and Raisina Hills where largescale protests were witnessed last weekend.

The girl, who was admitted to Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore in an extremely critical condition, breathed her last at 4:45 AM (2:15 AM India time). She was earlier treated at the Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi.

Ten Metro stations in Central Delhi were closed down for an indefinite period, as a precautionary measure by Delhi Police to prevent protesters from reaching India Gate.