Kiran Bedi calls India's policing a colonial relic and urges protests move to Ramlila Maidan

Former IPS officer and ex‑Lt Governor Kiran Bedi said India's law‑and‑order system remains rooted in colonial‑era policing. In a July 29, 2026 interview with IANS, she criticised the use of riot police and lathi charges during the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protests over alleged exam irregularities, arguing that force should be a last resort and that civil‑defence volunteers should be deployed first.

Bedi also proposed that Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan be designated as the official venue for major demonstrations, replacing Jantar Mantar. She said the larger ground offers better space, facilities and reduces the risk of clashes near Parliament Street, which she believes the current location exacerbates.