Anti-pollution protests in Delhi turned political as demonstrators displayed pro-Maoist posters, leading to over 22 arrests. Police reported protesters used chilli spray on personnel. The BJP labelled them ‘professional protesters’ and ‘urban Naxals.’ Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party questioned the BJP-led Delhi government’s “inaction” on the pollution as the air quality remained “very poor” in the region. NEW DELHI: Chilli sprays, pro-Maoist posters and over 22 arrests characterised the anti-pollution protests in the national capital region on Sunday. The protests turned political, with the Bharatiya Janata Party leaders bringing the “urban Naxals” narrative to the demonstrations.Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party questioned the BJP-led Delhi government’s “inaction” on the pollution as the air quality remained “very poor” in the region.’We Can’t Breathe’: Activists, Parents, Kids Held During Delhi Clean-Air Protest At India GatePeople had also gathered at the same location on November 9, urging the government to enforce measures to reduce air pollution in the NCR.Hidma posters on displayVisuals from the protests showed the demonstrators holding posters of Maoist commander Madvi Hidma, who was recently killed in an encounter.”A protest was held this evening at C Hexagon, India Gate, over pollution. But the protesters were holding posters of Maoist commander Madvi Hidma. When they tried to block the road, the police tried to remove them, but they sprayed pepper spray on the police personnel and tried to attack them. The police are now taking legal action against them,” ANI quoted Delhi Police saying.Hidma, a CPI(M) central committee member and the secretary of the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee, was killed on November 18 along with his wife, Rajje, and four other Maoists in the Maredumilli forests of Andhra Pradesh’s Alluri Sitarama Raju district. Security forces had said the group initiated firing during a cordon-and-search operation, sparking an extended encounter.Reacting to this, Chhattisgarh deputy chief minister Vijay Sharma said that the “children had no idea what they were actually talking about.””The children had no idea what they were actually talking about. They mentioned ‘Jantana Sarkar’, but they have neither seen it themselves nor understood its real impact. They are kids; they will understand eventually. Still, they need to learn how democracy functions, how real governments are formed, what their purpose and existence are, and how they actually operate,” he said.Delhi Police narrates what went on groundAccording to the Delhi Police, over 15 protesters were arrested after they allegedly refused to disperse during a demonstration against rising pollution at the C-Hexagon near India Gate. Police said the protesters obstructed official work, blocked the road, and, even more unusually, used chilli spray on police personnel.”Some of the protesters gathered inside the C-Hexagon and then tried to cross the barricade that we had put in place to restrict movement. However, they did not comply; they broke the barricade, came onto the road, and sat there…We requested them to move, as many ambulances and medical personnel were waiting behind them and required emergency access…We removed them from the C-Hexagon to avoid disrupting traffic. During the removal, several protesters scuffled with the police, and many of our personnel were injured,” ANI quoted Devesh Kumar Mahla saying.An FIR was registered, and relevant sections were invoked for assaulting police officers, causing obstruction, and blocking public pathways.BJP calls them ‘professional protesters’BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain slammed the demonstrators, calling them “professional protesters” for “raising slogans in support of Hidma”.”They came claiming to protest against pollution, but that was not their real purpose. Those with a ‘polluted mind’ began raising slogans in support of Hidma. We have always said that urban Naxals are present in cities as well,” he said.”In the forests, we have eliminated them, and whatever remains will also be finished. ‘Professional protesters’ always look for excuses against the government. Pollution was just a pretext – they aimed to promote Naxalism,” he added.”Under the pretext of pollution, some Naxalite elements staged a protest at India Gate and openly violated every norm of democracy. While protesting, they raised pro-Naxal slogans and sprayed chilli spray directly into the eyes of the police personnel on duty. This clearly shows it was a pre-planned conspiracy in which they failed. Such acts can never be accepted in a democracy,” said BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal.AAP leader Priyanka Kakkar, however, questioned the Delhi government, demanding “emergency meeting” to address the issue of pollution.”This is a national health emergency… The central government should act like a responsible government. It’s been 10 months since they’ve been in Delhi. Have you heard a single step they’ve taken regarding pollution? Nothing at all,” she said.”They should call a meeting with all the Chief Ministers and the Environment Ministers of the NCR, hold an emergency meeting, lay out certain plans, and take certain steps… This government is committing fraud with people’s health. That is why you are seeing citizens protesting again and again in Delhi: they, too, have understood the fraud of this government,” she added.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. 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NEW DELHI: Chilli sprays, pro-Maoist posters and over 22 arrests characterised the anti-pollution protests in the national capital region on Sunday. The protests turned political, with the Bharatiya Janata Party leaders bringing the “urban Naxals” narrative to the demonstrations.Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party questioned the BJP-led Delhi government’s “inaction” on the pollution as the air quality remained “very poor” in the region.
People had also gathered at the same location on November 9, urging the government to enforce measures to reduce air pollution in the NCR.
Hidma posters on display
Visuals from the protests showed the demonstrators holding posters of Maoist commander Madvi Hidma, who was recently killed in an encounter.“A protest was held this evening at C Hexagon, India Gate, over pollution. But the protesters were holding posters of Maoist commander Madvi Hidma. When they tried to block the road, the police tried to remove them, but they sprayed pepper spray on the police personnel and tried to attack them. The police are now taking legal action against them,” ANI quoted Delhi Police saying.Hidma, a CPI(M) central committee member and the secretary of the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee, was killed on November 18 along with his wife, Rajje, and four other Maoists in the Maredumilli forests of Andhra Pradesh’s Alluri Sitarama Raju district. Security forces had said the group initiated firing during a cordon-and-search operation, sparking an extended encounter.Reacting to this, Chhattisgarh deputy chief minister Vijay Sharma said that the “children had no idea what they were actually talking about.”“The children had no idea what they were actually talking about. They mentioned ‘Jantana Sarkar’, but they have neither seen it themselves nor understood its real impact. They are kids; they will understand eventually. Still, they need to learn how democracy functions, how real governments are formed, what their purpose and existence are, and how they actually operate,” he said.
Delhi Police narrates what went on ground
According to the Delhi Police, over 15 protesters were arrested after they allegedly refused to disperse during a demonstration against rising pollution at the C-Hexagon near India Gate. Police said the protesters obstructed official work, blocked the road, and, even more unusually, used chilli spray on police personnel.
“Some of the protesters gathered inside the C-Hexagon and then tried to cross the barricade that we had put in place to restrict movement. However, they did not comply; they broke the barricade, came onto the road, and sat there…We requested them to move, as many ambulances and medical personnel were waiting behind them and required emergency access…We removed them from the C-Hexagon to avoid disrupting traffic. During the removal, several protesters scuffled with the police, and many of our personnel were injured,” ANI quoted Devesh Kumar Mahla saying.An FIR was registered, and relevant sections were invoked for assaulting police officers, causing obstruction, and blocking public pathways.
BJP calls them ‘professional protesters’
BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain slammed the demonstrators, calling them “professional protesters” for “raising slogans in support of Hidma”.“They came claiming to protest against pollution, but that was not their real purpose. Those with a ‘polluted mind’ began raising slogans in support of Hidma. We have always said that urban Naxals are present in cities as well,” he said.“In the forests, we have eliminated them, and whatever remains will also be finished. ‘Professional protesters’ always look for excuses against the government. Pollution was just a pretext – they aimed to promote Naxalism,” he added.“Under the pretext of pollution, some Naxalite elements staged a protest at India Gate and openly violated every norm of democracy. While protesting, they raised pro-Naxal slogans and sprayed chilli spray directly into the eyes of the police personnel on duty. This clearly shows it was a pre-planned conspiracy in which they failed. Such acts can never be accepted in a democracy,” said BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal.AAP leader Priyanka Kakkar, however, questioned the Delhi government, demanding “emergency meeting” to address the issue of pollution.“This is a national health emergency… The central government should act like a responsible government. It’s been 10 months since they’ve been in Delhi. Have you heard a single step they’ve taken regarding pollution? Nothing at all,” she said.“They should call a meeting with all the Chief Ministers and the Environment Ministers of the NCR, hold an emergency meeting, lay out certain plans, and take certain steps… This government is committing fraud with people’s health. That is why you are seeing citizens protesting again and again in Delhi: they, too, have understood the fraud of this government,” she added.
