Delhi Police has denied permission for LPG cylinder distributors to hold an indefinite protest at the CBD Ground in East Delhi, citing the festive season, other scheduled events and potential law-and-order concerns. The distributors gathered at a designated location on Monday to oppose central government policies that they say promote piped natural gas over liquefied petroleum gas distribution.
Shahdara Deputy Commissioner of Police Rajendra Prasad Meena confirmed that permission for the protest had not been granted. A senior police officer said the authorities could not allow an indefinite strike at the CBD Ground during the festive period because of the possibility of a law-and-order problem.
The protest is expected to involve between 2,000 and 4,000 people, including LPG distributors and representatives from several states. Police increased security around the CBD Ground in anticipation of the gathering. The report did not specify the distributors’ individual demands or provide details of any formal response from the central government.
The dispute comes after Delhi’s protest-site arrangements were changed. Jantar Mantar was removed from the list of designated protest locations following a major demonstration against the central government on October 11. Ramlila Maidan, Burari Ground and the CBD Ground were subsequently added to the list of locations where demonstrations could be held.
The LPG distributors’ gathering was reported to be the first major protest at the CBD Ground after the change. The shift has moved some demonstrations away from the central government district and Parliament-facing areas, placing greater administrative importance on how permissions, crowd management and access are handled at alternative grounds.
The three locations also differ significantly in their proximity to central Delhi. Ramlila Maidan, spread across 12 acres, is around 3 kilometres from Jantar Mantar and about 4 kilometres from Parliament. It regularly hosts large events. The CBD Ground is approximately 12 kilometres from Jantar Mantar and 13 kilometres from Parliament, while Burari Ground is about 21 kilometres and 20 kilometres away from the two locations respectively.
For the distributors, the immediate issue is the denial of permission for an indefinite protest at the CBD Ground. For the police, the decision reflects the challenge of managing a large gathering during a period of heightened activity and multiple events. The authorities have not announced an alternative date or confirmed whether permission will be reconsidered.
