New Delhi | Jagran News Desk: After meeting the anti-CAA protesters at Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh on Wednesday, the Supreme Court-appointed interlocutors again reached Shaheen Bagh today to initiate the second round of discussion, but they put a condition that media should not be present during the talks with protesters.
According to news agency PTI, advocates Sanjay Hedge and Sadhana Ramachandran, the SC-appointed interlocutors, were not willing to start the discussion in the presence of media. However, the protesters tried to convince them that they want to represent their issues before the media, but the journalists were later asked to leave.
Ramachandran began addressing the protestors saying, "Aapne bulaya hum chale aaye (You called us and we are here)". "We have to think over it and talk in detail. We are thankful that yesterday we received blessings from all dadis (the elderly ladies protesting at the site)," she said as quoted by PTI.
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According to media reports, the protester told the interlocutors that Shaheen Bagh is our identity, the Supreme Court should retain our identity and stay with us on the question of our citizenship. On this, Sanjay Hegde said that SC will hear the complaints and will take decision accordingly. You should not repeat the same thing over and over again.
During the conversation, the negotiators appeared to be angry with the behaviour of the protesters. Sanjay Hegde said that we will not come from tomorrow to talk in such a chaos situation.
While talking to the interlocutor, a protester burst into tears and said that there should not be a petition to open the road. The negotiator Sadhana Ramachandran expressed her displeasure over this and said that you should not stop anyone from exercising their rights which includes access to roads and public places.
Ramachandran further said that we have come here only to talk on whether the road should be opened or not. But, here some people are insulting the Supreme Court, they should be removed from here. Sadhana Ramachandran even asked a protester to go out. She said that from tomorrow we will not come here if the protesters keep on repeating the same thing.
“We are going to find some other place where we can talk to women. If you want to talk here, then a group of 20 women should be made and talk, the rest can go out and should not disturb us, otherwise, we will not be able to come from tomorrow”, Sadhna Ramachandran said, as quoted by Dainik Jagran.
Soon after having a discussion with the protesters for the second consecutive day, Sadhna Ramachandran said that their mediation talks are not over and the two interlocutors will back tomorrow to discuss the matter with the protesters. "Our mediation talks are continuing and we will come back again tomorrow to Shaheen Bagh", she said as reported by news agency ANI.
The two interlocutors on Wednesday visited Shaheen Bagh to initiate talks with the protesters, asserting that the top court has upheld their right to protest but it should not affect the rights of other citizens. Many said they would clear the protest site only after the CAA, NRC and NPR were removed.
"The Supreme Court has upheld your right to protest. But other citizens also have their rights and those should also be maintained. We want to find a solution to the problem together. We will listen to everyone," she said in Hindi.
On Monday, the Supreme Court observed that the blockade of the road at Shaheen Bagh was "troubling" and suggested the protesters go to another site where no public place would be blocked. It, however, upheld their right to protest.
The apex court also asked Hegde to "play a constructive role as an interlocutor" to persuade the protesters to move to an alternative site. It said the interlocutors could seek Habibullah's assistance.
The sit-in, which has been going on since December 16, has blocked a critical arterial road connecting Delhi and Noida, causing trouble to commuters and schoolchildren.
(With agencies Inputs)