The pride march that was to be organised in February by the LGBTQ+ community at August Kranti Maidan was denied permission by Mumbai Police in a decision taken on Wednesday,. The Queer Azadi March was denied permission after the police officials feared that it may turn in a protest against the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Act.
It is said that the officers from Agripada Police Station had denied permission to march on the earlier venuw as 'slogans against the Union government, CAA and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) might be raised during the event.' Meanwhile, despite the Queer Azadi March being about the rights of the LGBTQ+ community, the police feared that it may be hijacked by anti-CAA-NRC protesters. Keeping the decision in mind, the organisers have now changed the venue for the Queer Azadi March to Azad Maidan in South Mumbai.
Mumbai-based organisation, Humsafar Trust had sought permission to hold the an annual event, on February 1, 2020.
It is expected that more than 15,000 members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBTQ+) community would participate in the march.
The officials have also issued a notice to the organisers under section 149 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, informing that they would be held responsible for law and order issues if the event is organised at the same spot. As an aftermath, the organisers met with the police officials and have decided to begin the march from Azad Maidan.
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