Cubbon Park Walkers Association objects to Jaishankar event, demands EC ban on political meetings in parks

On Sunday, Jaishankar had a free-wheeling chat with Cubbon park visitors as part of the ‘Meet and Greet’ event organized by MPs Mohan and Surya.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar interacts with youth during a class on foreign policy at the Cubbon Park, in Bengaluru, Sunday (PTI)

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A day after external affairs minister S Jaishankar held a public meeting in Cubbon Park along with Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya and Bengaluru Central MP PC Mohan, the Cubbon Park Walkers Association (CPWA) sent a letter to the Election Commission of India requesting the body to ban ‘political meetings’ in parks such as Cubbon Park and Lalbagh, citing disturbance to animals and birds.

In a press note issued Monday, the CPWA said, “The CPWA takes strong exception to the public meeting held within Cubbon park by External Affairs minister Shri S Jaishankar and Bengaluru (South) MP Shri Tejaswi Surya. Such public meetings disturb small animals and birds, besides people who come to the park for some solitude. This being election season, there is a chance of leaders of other political parties to holding such meetings, which can pose a threat to the park.”

The association further stated that “we would also like to clarify that no member of the Cubbon Park Walkers Association participated in the meeting, as we were not informed of the same in the first place. We request the Election Commission not to permit such meetings in the park in the future.”

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Speaking to Indian Express, CPWA president and advocate S Umesh said, “Cubbon park is not the right place for politicians to hold public meetings and discuss politics. Parks such as Cubbon park and Lalbagh is a major lung space for Bengaluru meant to conserve and protect the flora and fauna. Political parties cannot use this space for public meetings as it would set a bad precedence. Taking a cue from this, tomorrow, an MLA or a counselor will request for a similar meeting. We will not allow parties to misuse spaces like these for political gains.”

On Sunday, Jaishankar had a free-wheeling chat with Cubbon park visitors as part of the ‘Meet and Greet’ event organized by MPs Mohan and Surya. Jaishankar touched upon various topics including foreign policy, remarks by the US and Germany on disqualification of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as MP, and freebie culture among others.

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