The Delhi Police were forced to suspend, albeit temporarily, prohibitory orders imposed in the vicinity of Parliament, cited to deny permission for a march to Rashtrapati Bhawan against the Land Acquisition Ordinance by the opposition MPs.
Terming it a ‘serious issue’ and ‘highly objectionable’, opposition members sought protection to their fundamental rights and referred the House to a written letter from the Assistant Commissioner of Police of the Parliament Street sub-division stating that the march could not be allowed in the interests of law and order.
“...prohibitory orders under Section 144 Cr.PC are in promulgation in the areas surrounding the Parliament House. It is informed that any foot march in the form of a procession will be in violation of the orders as no permission has been taken. It is, therefore, requested that the MPs may be advised to not to proceed to R.P. Bhawan in procession,” the letter had said.
Initially, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said that no MP could be denied permission to meet the President and that he would check if such orders had been issued. Later, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman P J Kurien said a copy of a Delhi Police letter received by MPs has been “verified”.
