THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a move that has invited criticism amid the nationwide anti-SIR protests, city authorities are actively considering restrictions on protests at Manaveeyam, the city’s prominent cultural corridor.
The corporation is exploring options to restrict protests along the street after the recent anti-SIR protest attended by Prakash Raj triggered strong reaction and legal action.
According to sources with the city police, the BJP-led corporation is actively considering different options including denying permissions to protests or similar activities in the street. Police officials said the final call on this will be taken by the corporation.
“The corporation is of the view that Manaveeyam Veedhi had been designed as a space for cultural events or similar programmes. Turning it into a venue for protests, like Jantar Mantar, is not ideal. According to them, protests should largely be centred around places like the secretariat or Lok Bhavan,” a top police official told TNIE.
The corporation will convene a meeting with police officials after the Navratri holidays to arrive at a consensus for events to be held on the road. Meanwhile, Mayor V V Rajesh chose to play down the move, saying a final decision will only be taken after an official meeting.
The move comes days after the anti-SIR protest staged by ‘Collective for Democracy’, attended by actor Prakash Raj, was opposed by corporation officials, claiming organisers had not availed clearances. The protestors had also alleged that the corporation was trying to sabotage their protests by denying them permissions.
As of now, to organise an event at Manaveeyam, one needs to get clearance from the corporation by applying online. Officials had informed that it may take two or three days to obtain the clearance. Organisers may also need police clearance if they are using microphones and speakers.
Meanwhile, the move has invited criticism from youth organisations. Saying that every cultural activity is political, Collective for Democracy convenor Emil B S said the cultural fraternity of Thiruvananthapuram will outrightly reject this. “If implemented, there will be no difference between Jantar Mantar and Manaveeyam. We will not succumb to any implementation of the Sangh Parivar agenda,” Emil told TNIE.
Criticising the move, LDF parliamentary party leader Deepak S P commented that various protests and political events have taken place in the space. “There is nothing wrong in staging protests in a democratic setting. Manaveeyam itself has been the venue of protests through songs, poems and speeches, and this is a completely undemocratic move,” he said.
Manaveeyam Theruvidam Culture Collective secretary K G Suraj said that protests at Manaveeyam do not take place as slogans or demonstrations alone, but through various cultural activities. “Art is for social transformation, and Manaveeyam has witnessed many such protests. This has been the nature of the space for over 24 years, and it cannot be allowed to change,” he said.