The Supreme Court-appointed interlocutors visited Shaheen Bagh on Wednesday to initiate talks with the protesters after the court suggested that the agitation should be held in an alternative site where no public place is blocked.
The protesters have been on a sit-in against the new citizenship law for over two months.
Talking to reporters, the interlocutors, Sanjay Hegde and Sadhana Ramachandran, said they had come to Shaheen Bagh to listen to people who had assembled in large numbers. "The Supreme Court has said that you have the right to protest. The law (CAA) has been challenged in the Supreme Court. But like us, others too have their rights, like right to use roads, open their shops," said Ramachandran addressing the protesters.
"We have come here according to the order of Supreme Court. We hope to speak to everyone. We hope to resolve the matter with everybody's cooperation," Hegde told mediapersons as the duo arrived at Shaheen Bagh.
The interlocutors were appointed by the apex court on Monday to "play a constructive role as an interlocutor" to persuade the protestors to move to an alternative site. People have a fundamental right to protest "peacefully and lawfully" but blocking public roads and places is a matter of concern as it might lead to "chaotic situation", the apex court said, stressing that there has to be a "balancing factor".
"Democracy works on expression of views but there are lines and boundaries for it," a bench of Justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph said, adding, "The question which is arising is where to protest."
"Our concern is if everybody starts blocking public areas then where will it end," the bench asked, while hearing pleas seeking removal of protestors from Shaheen Bagh and ensuring smooth traffic flow in the area.
"There must be a balancing factor," the bench said, adding, "Blocking of public road is troubling us".
It said Hegde can take assistance of advocate Ramachandran and former Chief Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah for talking to the protestors.
