BRS MLC Kavitha dharna at Jantar Mantar: BJP counter protest in Delhi

NEW DELHI: Even as Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLC Kalvakuntla Kavitha is spearheading an opposition dharna to press for women’s reservation bill in Delhi on March 10, 2023 (Friday), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is also scrambling its men and women to hold a similar protest in the national capital. In what is being seen as an attempt to counter the BRS-led opposition agitation, the Telangana unit of the BJP is hurriedly making arrangements for their dharna on the Deen Dayal Marg. The saffron party is reportedly holding the agitation to resent the growing number of liquor belt shops in Telangana. Several leaders from the state including BJP state unit president and Karimnagar MP Bandi Sanjay are expected to take part in the counter protest.

The BJP, which has reportedly applied for permission to hold its protest at Jantar Mantar itself, was persuaded to organise their programme at a place close to the Aam Admi Party (AAP) on the Deen Dayal Marg. Thus, a potential showdown of the two political rivals, sharing Jantar Mantar and trading charges against each other, was safely avoided.

Dramatic developments were also witnessed earlier in the day when the Delhi police informed BRS MLC Kavitha and her Bharat Jagruthi organisers of their decision to withdraw permission for the planned protest. They cited security reasons in the wake of the BJP too applying for permission to hold their dharna at the same venue and on the same day.

The BRS MLC, along with leaders of other like-minded opposition political parties, is scheduled to stage the protest at Jantar Mantar to press for the passage of the 33 percent women’ reservation bill in Parliament.

Kavitha, who was also summoned by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) for questioning in the Delhi liquor policy matter, was reportedly informed by the Delhi police of their decision to withdraw the permission while she was addressing the media at the Delhi Press Club. The Delhi police cited multiple reasons for the denial of permission for the protest, evoking angry reactions from the BRS leaders and MLC Kavitha.

The Delhi police reportedly cited security reasons and advised the organisers to use only a part of the premises for the protest. They were also asked to shift their planned protest to another venue as an alternative. To this, Kavitha is learnt to have expressed her displeasure stating that priot permission was obtained about 10 days and wondered how it could be cancelled at the eleventh hour. The permission was secured about 10 days ago to organise the dharna/fast with the participation of 5,000 people, she reportedly told the Delhi police.

But to her dismay, she was informed that the decision was taken following a request from the BJP to organise a similar dharna programme at Jantar Mantar. Resultantly, the Bharat Jagruti was asked to use only half of the premises for their agitation.

Expressing her shock at the BJP hurriedly planning an agitation at the same venue, the BRS MLC expressed the suspicion that it was being purposely done to scuttle their protest plans. While stating that they would hold deliberations with the police, she however asserted that her scheduled fast and dharna would be staged as planned earlier.

However, the issue could be amicably resolved as the Delhi police persuaded the BJP to organise their agitation on the Deen Dayal Marg.