Protesters in Mumbai get show-cause notices to sign peace bonds
One of the allegations mentioned in a notice concerned an appeal to gather near Ashoka Pillar at Chaityabhoomi in Dadar on July 20 in support of demands linked to exam paper leaks and calls for the resignation of then Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan . The notice also referred to a purported appeal to mobilise supporters at Shivaji Park on Oct 11 to demand the resignation of chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged electoral fraud. Another allegation related to a protest on Oct 10 near Nana Chowk, close to August Kranti Maidan, where Progressive Students Union’s Samya Korde and Tushar Gandhi , president of Hum Bharat Ke Log, allegedly gathered around 350-400 protesters without permission.
Korde told TOI that she had merely exercised her constitutional right to protest. She said organisers had always informed police before holding protests but had never received permission. “It is police’s responsibility to maintain law and order during a protest. ” Korde alleged selective action by police and cited an instance of an effigy of an opposition party functionary being burnt in the past. She said no action was taken and no one was detained in that case.
It claimed that these activities had the potential to create law and order problems and threaten public safety. “I will seek legal opinion and respond to the show-cause notice. Social media is a tool that can be used to mobilise people for a protest. How does that make it unconstitutional?” she asked.
The notice issued to her said after examining the police report and supporting material, there were grounds to believe that she could engage in similar activities in the future that might disturb public order.
It directed her to appear before the court at Matunga police station on the date specified in the notice and submit her explanation within seven days of receipt.