'Not Possible In One Day': Supreme Court-Appointed Interlocutors After Meeting Shaheen Bagh Protesters

Supreme Court-appointed interlocutors Sanjay Hegde and Sadhana Ramachandran have left the protest site at Shaheen Bagh after their talks with the protesters remained inconclusive. The two interlocutors will again visit the protest site tomorrow i.e. on Thursday. “We met them and listened to them. We asked them if they want us to come back tomorrow as it's not possible to complete the talks in one day. They said they want us to come back tomorrow, so we will,” senior counsel Sadhana Ramachandran told media persons while leaving the protest site.

Earlier, the interlocutors asked said media to leave as they were not willing to talk to protesters in front of them. They said the media will be informed about the progress later. Hegde said that ‘we need to find a solution’. Ramachandran spoke about children facing inconvenience while going to school.

On February 17, the Supreme Court-appointed senior counsel Sanjay Hegde and Sadhana Ramachandran as interlocutors to talk to Shaheen Bagh protesters. In a stern observation, the top court said, “when strong views emerge, you cannot say don't put forth your strong views. Those things don't trouble us. The only thing troubling is the blocking of a public road.” The apex court further said, “people have fundamental right to protest but the thing which is troubling us is blocking of public roads. Democracy works on expressing views but there are lines and boundaries for it.” The top court also added, “if nothing works, we will leave it to authorities to deal with the situation.”

On the blockade causing inconvenience to the general public, a bench comprising Justices SK Kaul and KM Joseph said, “there’s a law enacted, and challenge to it is pending in the Court. It’s fine that some people may want to protest. The protests have gone on for many days… There must be an area where you can protest. It cannot be held wherever one wants. It has to be in identified area… Otherwise people will go and protest anywhere.”

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The apex court was hearing petitions filed by Advocate Amit Sahni and Delhi BJP leader Nand Kishore Garg on the Shaheen Bagh blockade.