Most peaceful protest in all these years: Police

New Delhi, April 09, 2011

Anna Hazare has got the entire nation moving right from Jantar Mantar. Thousands joined the Gandhian in his protest happening in the heart of the city, but unlike most protest, this jamboree did not force a single Delhiite to take a detour. For the first time in more than a decade a protest, and that too of this mammoth proportion, did not harass Delhiites coming to Connaught Place and beyond. There were no traffic jams or diversions and Tolstoy Marg, Parliament Street, Kasturba Gandhi Marg witnessed business as usual.

There was not even a single traffic jam even though thousands of people from all over the country thronged Jantar Mantar and held not only protests but also small concerts and other gatherings. National and international media had come with their army of men and equipment.

For Delhi Police this was the best well-managed protest ever held in the Capital, all thanks to Hazare and his non-violent followers.

“There have been no problems as far as traffic is concerned; so far the local contingent has been managing it well. We do not have extra deployment in mind for the weekend. However, the next working day might pose some problem. We are ready for that,” said Satyendra Garg, JCP (Traffic).

Last year Tolstoy Marg and Jantar Mantar witnessed not less than 1,800 protests and Delhi Police had to deploy 56,000 men throughout the year.

“This time we have deployed a little more than 50 men. The crowds are not causing any sort of problem. Otherwise for such a huge gathering we need no less than five battalions of police,” said a senior police officer who has been handing protests in the area for the last two years.