From 'Ae Watan Mere Watan Ke Logo' to JP movement and Anna's fast, the story of Ramlila Maidan
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The new order of Delhi Police has become a topic of discussion amid the ongoing protests against the Chief Election Commissioner.
Now no one will be able to protest at Jantar Mantar, which has been witness to many historic demonstrations.
Delhi Police has issued an order in this regard saying that Jantar Mantar has been removed from the list of protest sites. Police have fixed three places for demonstrations in Delhi. These are Ramlila Maidan, Burari and CBD Ground. The most popular among these has been Delhi's Ramlila Maidan.
According to news agency PTI, 50,000 people can gather in this ground spread over 12 acres. Also, its booking for one day costs a total of Rs 1.21 lakh. This includes refundable security deposit and taxes.
India Today has quoted officials as saying that this year this ground is vacant only for three days. These are- 29, 30 and 31 December.
Booking of Ramlila Maidan is done through the Horticulture Department of Delhi Municipal Corporation. Apart from this, 'No Objection Certificate' is required from Delhi Police. Booking of Ramlila Maidan cannot be done without it.
According to officials, a small part of the ground can be availed for free, but only 150 people can gather there.
History of Ramlila Maidan
Ramlila Maidan has been witness to countless historical movements like the freedom struggle, victory over Pakistan, Emergency, Ram Mandir movement and the movement for Jan Lokpal.
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With time, many organizations of Old Delhi started organizing Ram Leelas in this ground. For this reason it came to be known as Ramlila Maidan.
There was no bigger and more open place than this in Delhi at that time, hence this ground became the favorite ground of politicians for holding big events like rallies and for direct communication with the general public.
Indira Gandhi had celebrated the victory of the war with Pakistan on this very ground.
During the freedom struggle, it became the most favorite ground of protest for Mahatma Gandhi, Jawahar Lal Nehru, Sardar Patel and other leaders.
On this ground, everyone from Mohammad Ali Jinnah to Jawahar Lal Nehru and from Baba Ramdev to Anna Hazare have protested.
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Ramlila Maidan was used for both government rallies and raising voice against the government.
In December 1952, Shyama Prasad Mukherjee did Satyagraha on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir at Ramlila Maidan. The country's first Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru held huge public meetings at the Maidan in the years 1956 and 57.
Jayaprakash Narayan had raised his voice against the Congress government from this very ground. On January 28, 1961, Britain's Queen Elizabeth addressed a large public meeting at Ramlila Maidan itself.
On January 26, 1963, Lata Mangeshkar presented a program in the presence of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. In the year 1965, during the fight against Pakistan, the then Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri had once again repeated the slogan of 'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan' in a huge public meeting on this very ground.
In the year 1972, the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had held a big rally in this ground to celebrate the formation of Bangladesh and winning the war with Pakistan and where she got huge support from the public.
On June 25, 1975, on this very ground, folk hero Jai Prakash Narayan, along with opposition leaders, had announced that the dictatorial government of Indira Gandhi should be overthrown.
In February 1977, the opposition parties once again chose this ground to convey their voice to the public.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee along with Morarji Desai, Chaudhary Charan Singh and Chandrashekhar, who had left the Congress under the leadership of Babu Jagjivan Ram under the banner of Janata Party, were seen together on the stage of this Maidan.
The Boat Club had become the site of protests during the 1980s and 90s, but due to the ban on protests at the Boat Club during the tenure of Prime Minister Narasimha Rao, this ground was chosen by the Bharatiya Janata Party for the Ram Temple movement.
Many programs of Congress, BJP and other parties, organizations and religious organizations have been taking place here.
In 2011, a nationwide movement was started under the leadership of Anna Hazare demanding a strong Lokpal law. At that time Ramlila Maidan remained in the headlines for a long time. From this movement, Aam Aadmi Party was formed under the leadership of Arvind Kejriwal and then their government was also formed in Delhi.
In the year 2011 itself, Baba Ramdev had fasted at Ramlila Maidan against black money and corruption, but he had to leave from there after the action of Delhi Police.
