The Raipur Municipal Corporation in Chhattisgarh has implemented a new regulation mandating that individuals pay ₹500 to organize protests within the city, a decision that has drawn significant criticism for being termed a “tax on dissent” and a violation of the fundamental right to protest.
This policy, approved by the BJP-led civic body, stipulates that anyone setting up a stage or pandal in a public area will incur an additional charge of ₹5 per square foot. The decision arises amid a prolonged closure of the city’s main protest venue, Tuta Dharna Sthal, which has been off-limits for two months following a ban imposed by Raipur Collector Dr. Gaurav Singh, who cited “maintenance work” as the reason.
The newly established fees leave citizens without a designated space to express dissent and, once the protest ban is lifted, those wishing to protest will be required to pay the imposed fees. Furthermore, it has been suggested that the protest fee could potentially be increased to ₹1,000, as per a proposal reportedly supported unanimously in the same municipal meeting.
In a statement to NDTV, Mayor Meena Choubey defended the initiative, explaining that the fees are in accordance with government directives designed to cover expenses related to cleaning, maintenance, and crowd management during protests. “If there is a protest or procession, the route is known in advance, and cleaning arrangements are made after the event. The fee has been imposed as per the government’s directives,” she stated.
However, opposition leaders and various civil society organizations have condemned the move, viewing it as a means to suppress democratic expression. Activists argue that this new policy is aimed at discouraging public discourse on pressing issues, essentially commodifying the right to protest.
The post In Chhattisgarh’s Raipur, authorities impose ₹500 fee to protest appeared first on Maktoob media.
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