What an old 20th c. Delhi move

‘Aapki ID dikhao!’

‘Aapka name tag dikhao!’ snapped ‘Retiredreporter’ as she confronted a Delhi constable during Saturday’s anti-SIR/CEC protests. Then there were fatbikervaibhav, asadwithpeople, and talktosaumya, all going live on their phones and turning their Instagram profiles into instant newsrooms.

Over the weekend, these young ‘independent reporters’ were everywhere—running with protesters, dodging police barricades and lathi-wielding policemen, and streaming raw footage that gave everyone a direct window into what was happening on the street.


Against this backdrop, GoI’s decision on Monday to drop Jantar Mantar in central Delhi as a protest site feels like a self-goal. Moving protests and rallies off to Ramlila Maidan in Old Delhi, Burari in North Delhi, and CBD Ground in East Delhi (see map) relies on an old idea: that if you move a protest out of sight, you control its impact.

But that’s just not how things work anymore. A protest doesn’t start and end on the patch of grass where people gather; its real impact depends on who films it, what gets caught on camera, and how fast the video goes viral. Today, a smartphone and a ‘press’ lanyard are all it takes to drive the news cycle.

That doesn't mean Jantar Mantar’s location doesn't matter. For decades, it gave protesters a spot right next to power and a guaranteed shot at catching the eye of television cameras. Delhi’s protest map has moved before—rallies used to happen on the Boat Club lawns near India Gate until authorities pushed them toward Jantar Mantar. While Ramlila Maidan is still fairly central, sending people to distant spots like Burari or CBD Grounds feels like a clear attempt to sideline dissent, and people on the street can see right through it.

Around the world, places like Tiananmen Square in Beijing, Paris’ Place de la République, and Santiago’s Plaza Dignidad became iconic because of the movements that took place there. A physical location can easily become a symbol. But in a digital world, that symbol isn't trapped within a specific set of coordinates. In India, there is Kolkata’s Brigade Parade Ground and Maidan, and Mumbai’s Azad Maidan and Shivaji Park.

In fact, the main news story often shifts away from what people originally gathered to demand. A sudden police barricade, an order to clear the road, or a heated confrontation between a young reporter and a cop can instantly become the real story. The government might succeed in physically shifting a crowd, but its heavy-handed response usually creates an even bigger story about civil rights and police overreach.

Physical presence, access, and visibility still matter, and social media can’t entirely replace feet on the ground. Governments also have a genuine responsibility to manage traffic and public safety through reasonable rules. But safety regulations shouldn't be used as a convenient excuse to sweep protests under the rug and make them invisible.

At the end of the day, a healthy democracy isn't measured by how successfully a government keeps protesters away from VIP areas. It is measured by whether it can tolerate citizens standing up in public and asking tough questions.

Moving protesters away from Jantar Mantar might move the crowd, but it won't move the story. That a party as social media-savvy BJP missed it is surprising.