Chhoo Mantar! Better JanMan alternatives

Based on recommendations of a home ministry committee formed on Oct 9 to examine public protest venues other than Jantar Mantar, Delhi Police uttered 'Chhoo mantar!' and made JanMan vanish as a protest venue. In any case, the police had de facto denotified the site two days before, when they kept protesters away from the still de jure area. Lest anyone believes that GoI, like Queen Gertrude in Hamlet, thinks that citizens of this country doth protest too much - and should, instead, stick to marvelling the 13 architectural astronomical instruments in the observatory that Sawai Jai Singh of Jaipur built in 1724 - don't be daft. The committee has thoughtfully suggested three lovely alternatives: Ramlila Maidan in Old Delhi; CBD (Central Business District) Ground in Shahdara, east Delhi; and Burari Ground in north Delhi. These three expansive spaces should provide plenty of elbow room and light for demonstrators.

Some folks are upset about JanMan becoming off-limits for protesters. But barring a nice lunch at nearby Connaught Place, the other three places will make for far better optics. There was a time when being close to Parliament was a distinct advantage - physically and symbolically. Now, with mass and social media, such an offline tactic is as redundant as 'appeals' to stay away from anti-government protests altogether. To Ramlila then!