Is expression of dissent on Delhi streets on a slide? The answer could be yes if one goes by the number of strikes, demonstrations and dharnas held in the Capital last year.

There has been a decrease in the number of demonstrations, dharnas, rallies and meetings in the capital last year compared with the figures in the previous two years, statistics provided by Delhi Police show.

Last year, there were 1,124 demonstrations in the Capital down from 2008’s figure of 1,308, while strikes in employment units came down to 91 from 2008’s 174. Figures for demonstrations and strikes in 2009 were 1,114 and 237.

The year 2008 saw 1,500 dharnas in the Capital but last year saw a decline to 1,208, which was also less than 2009’s figure of 1,258.

Same was the fate of rallies and meetings in the Capital, which saw a sharp fall in numbers last year to 152 and 294 respectively from 259 and 777 in 2008. In 2009, there were 173 rallies and 464 meetings.

Only processions, mainly religious ones, showed an increasing trend last year with a figure of 224 as against 2009’s 52 and 2008’s 125.

Interestingly, 55 per cent or 1,727 demonstrations, rallies and dharnas of the total 3,093 such protests were held at Jantar Mantar, the protest hotspot of the capital which is just a kilometre away from Parliament.

The New Delhi Police, under whose jurisdiction Jantar Mantar falls, also handled 1,261 visits and movements of dignitaries, including 16 Heads of States. East Delhi Police handled three bandhs last year besides 20 demonstrations, two rallies and 12 dharnas.

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