The Hindu : City needs a `Hyde Park' for rallies, say police

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 12, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka-Bangalore

City needs a `Hyde Park' for rallies, say police

By B.S. Ramesh

BANGALORE Nov. 11. Rallies and processions disrupting traffic and affecting life may soon be a thing of the past if a plan of the City police materialises.

The Commissioner of Police, S. Mariswamy, told The Hindu here on Monday that the police had suggested to the Bangalore Agenda Task Force (BATF) that land be earmarked for people to organise processions, rallies, dharnas, satyagrahas, and other forms of protests, on the lines of the Hyde Park in London.

While the police have sought the Government's approval for transforming the Central Jail premises into a mini "Hyde Park", the BATF has suggested an alternative site as the State Government wants to convert the jail premises into a park.

The BATF, Mr. Mariswamy said, had suggested that the Central College Grounds be utilised for the plan as it was as big as the jail premises.

Allowing protests only in a designated area will prevent traffic hold-ups that have come to be associated with protests on roads. While agreeing that protests are a democratic method to voice one's views, the city police feel that the city roads are too small and congested to allow them to be held.

They cause inconvenience to motorists, and since Bangalore has very few parallel roads, people cannot avoid taking the roads on which processions are held.

Mr. Mariswamy suggested that steps be taken to provide civic amenities on land to be earmarked for protests. Sheds could be put up, and drinking water and toilet facilities provided, he said.

He said a government functionary should be assigned to receive memoranda and requests, and forward them to the authorities concerned.

The proposal, if implemented, could solve the woes of motorists and the police. While motorists complained about the loss of time when the processions passed slowly through the main thoroughfares, police utilised more than half their time for providing security during protests.

Many motorists, while welcoming the proposal, say that if implemented, it will be a boon to motorists on J.C. Road, Kasturba Road, Palace Road, Kempe Gowda Road, and Post Office Road. Most protests are staged on these roads, and they disrupt traffic, they add.

Mr. Mariswamy said the High Court had directed the Government not to allow rallies and protests in Cubbon Park.

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City needs a `Hyde Park' for rallies, say police