Mangaluru, Jan 18: Raising voice against injustice and illegality is one of the rights of the people. Usually people organise protests, Dharnas, condemnation meetings to raise their voice. And yes, this is a democratic life.

It is common that depending on the circumstances, people from various organisations keep on protesting in front of the office of Deputy Commissioner, Assistant Commissioner, Tahsildar, Zilla Panchayat, Taluk Panchayat, Gram Panchayat, and Police Department almost every day.

But now, to suppress these struggles, the state government has ordered to collect the fixed fees for giving permissions to organise private meetings, conventions, and  protests.

As such, the Mangaluru City Police Department has started collecting fees. To use loudspeakers in a programme, people must pay Rs. 75 for the first day, then it can be continued by paying Rs. 15 per day after that. That means, Rs. 450 per month. Besides that, it has asked to pay. Rs. 500 per day for a peaceful assembly and march.

There is an attempt to suppress struggles through this rule that is dangerous for democracy. DYFI has always been involved in the struggles. We got this information when we went to the police station seeking permission to protest against BJP's resort politics. The government should drop this rule immediately. The police department must clarify what this order says about religious and social programs. Can farmers and beedi workers pay a fee if they want to struggle against injustice?

-Muneer Katipalla, DYFI president

The state government has instructed to collect the fixed amount of fee to permit protests at the end of the last year. Now we are implementing it. No clear indications has come regarding mass protests and padayatras. Whatever instruction comes from the governemnt, It will be followed.

-TR. Suresh, Commissioner, Mangalore City Police

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Lucknow (PTI): Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath termed the defeat of the Constitution Amendment Bill to implement reservation for women in legislatures in 2029 and increase the number of seats of the Lok Sabha "betrayal of the woman power" of the nation.

A Constitution Amendment Bill to implement 33 per cent reservation for women in legislatures in 2029 and increase the number of Lok Sabha seats to 816 was defeated on Friday.

In a post on X in Hindi, late on Friday night, Adityanath said, "Today, a dark chapter has been added to the history of India's great democracy. The Opposition's obstruction of the passage of the Constitutional Amendment Bill essential for the 'Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam' is a blow to the honour of 'Bharat Mata' (Mother India). It is a betrayal of the entire woman power of the nation; it is an infringement upon their democratic rights.

"The Congress-led 'INDI' alliance has exposed its anti-women mindset. The women of the nation are watching and understanding everything. They will remember this deceit and injustice, and when the time comes, they will surely give a reply. Under the leadership of our Prime Minister @narendramodi ji, the NDA alliance will continue its unwavering efforts to protect the honour, dignity, and rights of women, and to ensure their empowerment."

While 298 members voted in support of the Bill in the Lok Sabha, 230 MPs voted against it. The Bill required 352 votes for a two-thirds majority.

According to the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, Lok Sabha seats were to be increased to 816 from the current 543 to "operationalise" the women's reservation law before the 2029 parliamentary polls, following a delimitation exercise based on the 2011 Census.

Seats were also to be increased in state and Union Territory assemblies to accommodate 33 per cent reservation for women.

This was for the first time that a Bill under the Modi government was defeated in Parliament.