Port Blair, Dec 29: CPI (M) has demanded that the Tiranga Park at Aberdeen Bazar, Port Blair should be used only for holding public meetings, mass dharna, etc by political parties and organizations and not to allow any kind of commercial activities in the Tiranga Park in future. In a letter sent to the Secretary, Port Blair Municipal Council, Mr. D. Ayyappan, State Secretary, CPI (M) drew the attention of the Secretary, PBMC to the exhibition-cum-sale organized by some traders at Tiranga Park, Aberdeen Bazar, and Port Blair recently. The Tiranga Park was created by the CPI (M)-led Left & Democratic Front which was in power in the erstwhile Port Blair Municipal Board from 1990 to 1994, for holding public meetings and protests like Mass Dharna, etc by political parties and organizations. There is no other place available at the Port Blair town to conduct public meetings and mass dharna, etc.
Mr. Ayyappan stated in the letter that earlier also, CPI (M) had protested against utilizing the Tiranga Park for commercial activities, but the successive rulers in the PBMC continued the practice. When the Tiranga Park is booked for such commercial purposes in advance, the political parties and organizations who want to hold public meetings and Mass Dharna, etc. are forced to give up their plan for organizing the programme. He further stated that holding public meetings, mass demonstration, etc are the constitutional rights guaranteed to the citizens and no authority can abridge it on whatsoever ground.
