Can religious processions on roads be banned in India? Can such a law be implemented on events of different religions simultaneously and equally? The question does not have a particular answer but we can definitely sense the ferocity of the times in which the question is being posed. We need to listen carefully to the underlying voices behind the protest against agitations on roads or offering of namaz. We also need to see how far the political rhetoric related to roads has changed in the past decade. The issue of toll tax or poor infrastructure of roads has not been raised as often and as vigorously as the matter of namaz on roads. Why is the question of road use so ferociously brought up only at the time of namaz? https://thewire.in/communalism/dont-hide-your-communal-prejudice-under-the-cloak-of-protecting-our-roads
Similarly, footpaths have vanished from roads in urban areas. Rights have been denied to pedestrians and here in Delhi, there is not a single lane for lakhs of cyclists. I am citing this example only to show that a road is not such a public and democratic space after all. In India, a particular class has dominated the roads – we call it the class of ‘car-wallahs’. A long campaign was run in a capital city like Delhi for making way for ambulances.
Democratisation of roads in India has taken place in a very narrow sense. Even if we look at it only as a space for unhindered traffic, there is gross dishonesty here. However, one must understand that roads are not used only for going to office or a hospital. They are used for hundreds of democratic and religious activities.
by Ravish Kumar
12/03/2024