Jignesh Mevani recently won Gujarat state elections with Congress support.
The 'Yuva Hunkar' rally led by Dalit spearhead Jignesh Mevani, a newly-elected Gujarat MLA, began at Parliament Street in Delhi on Tuesday, amid heavy police presence in and around the venue. Although the authorities had maintained till the last minute that Mevani and his supporters did not have permission to hold the event, it seems the rally organisers and Delhi Police reached a compromise later. The rally, which began around 1 pm, saw a modest turnout. Former and current JNU student leaders, including Kanhaiya Kumar, Shehla Rashid and Umar Khalid were present on the stage, metres away from the Parliament Street Police Station.
Assam farmers leader Akhil Gogoi and senior Supreme Court lawyer Prashant Bhushan were also present apart from students from JNU, Delhi University, Lucknow University and Allahabad University among others. The rally seeks to raise the demand for the release of Dalit outfit Bhim Army's founder Chandrashekhar Azad and emphasise on issues like educational rights, employment, livelihood and gender justice.
Here are the live updates of Jignesh Mevani's 'Yuva Hunkaar' rally:
"The way corruption, poverty, unemployment and the real issues are being swept under the carpet and ghar wapasi, love jihad and cows are being given space, we stand against that," says Jignesh Mevani at 'Yuva Hunkar' rally in Delhi.
We Only Want To Save Our Constitution: Jignesh Mevani
"There is a threat to our constitution. We only want to save our constitution," Jignesh Mevani at 'Yuva Hunkar' rally. Latest visuals show that the turnout at the rally has been considerably low with empty chairs.
At 'Yuva Hunkar' rally in Delhi's Parliament Street, Gujarat MLA and Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani targets PM Narendra Modi, says he has to answer for the Bhima Koregaon violence.
"We are not love jihad guys, we are pyaar ishq muhabbat guys. We will celebrate February 14," says Jignesh Mevani at 'Yuva Hunkar' rally.
Jignesh Mevani starts speaking at 'Yuva Hunkar' rally in Delhi's Parliament Street, says, "We will protect the constitution."
When They Come With Lathis, Stand Together: Kanhaiya Kumar At 'Yuva Hunkar' Rally
Former JNU students' union president Kanhaiya Kumar speaks at Yuva Hunkar' rally, says, "No matter how angry they make you, do not indulge in violence. When they come with lathis, prepare your backs, stand together but don't forget, this cycle of violence can only be won with love."
Organisers of the 'Yuva Hunkar' rally have said after the rally, a delegation will walk to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official residence at Lok Kalyan Marg to hand over a copy of the Indian Constitution and the 'Manusmriti' to him, and ask him to choose between the two.
Unfortunate, we were just going to demonstrate democratically and peacefully, the Govt is targeting us, an elected representative is not being allowed to speak: Jignesh Mewani to news agency ANI on being denied permission for Yuva Hunkar rally in Delhi
The public meeting is set to take place outside Parliament Street police station.
Joint Commissioner of Police of New Delhi addressed the media ahead of Jignesh Mevani's Hunkar Rally, said no permission has been granted.
He told news agency ANI that, " Nobody has been given a permission. Since there is an NGT order that no protest can be staged at Jantar Mantar, we have asked organisers to hold the protest at alternate sites like Ramlila Maidan".
Student leader Shehla Rashid tweeted a photo of the rally venue saying that everything is going as per schedule.
Around 2,000 security personnel, including the paramilitary forces, have been deployed in the national capital in view of the 'Yuva Hunkaar' rally by Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani.
Posters seen in Parliament Street area ahead of Jignesh Mevani's 'Yuva Hunkar Rally'.
Former JNU vice-president and student leader Shehla Rashid tweeted in response to the DCP's tweet saying that the rally would be held on Parliament Street.
Heavy security has been deployed ahead of Jignesh Mevani's 'Yuva Hunkar Rally' to be held at Parliament Street. Delhi Police has denied permission to hold the event.
On Monday evening, a tweet from Delhi Police read, "No permission granted so far by Delhi Police to hold proposed protest at Parliament Street in view of NGT orders. Organisers have been constantly advised to go to alternate site which they are reluctant to accept".
- Newly-elected Gujarat legislator and Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani's request to hold a youth rally in Delhi today
- The Delhi Police is yet to accept permission to hold the rally
- The 'Yuva Hunkaar rally" may go ahead without permission.
- In a statement, the organisers have urged the prospective participants to "assemble on the Parliament Street at 12 pm today".
- The police are getting ready with water cannons and tear gas to control the crowds, say sources.