In a letter to Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kunar, Salve said blocking arterial roads in the capital during VIP movements is violative of constitutional rights and people should stand and fight against it.
"I don't think police has the right to shut down arterial roads without prior intimation and without making alternative traffic arrangements every time a VIP decides to go from point A to point B. I think it is blatantly violative of our constitutional rights," he said.
Salve said people should assert their rights against the poor treatment they get in bad traffic situations.
"It is time that citizens of the city assert that they are the political masters of this country and they are not going to be treated like insects, the way we are treated in traffic. Anybody who is caught in the traffic, knows how you are treated," he said.
His remarks come against the backdrop of traffic disruption caused by VIP movement for the funeral of former Prime Minister I K Gujral yesterday.
Reacting to Salve's letter, Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit sought to highlight the safety and security of vulnerable people during their movements.
"Once the Supreme Court had also said that there is something required for safety and security of certain people who are vulnerable. That should be respected," he said.
Dikshit said that the example of Gujral's funeral was "not a very valid example because certain things we do need to do."
President Pranab Mukherjee had in the past made it clear that functions should be held in Rashtrapati Bhavan itself to avoid inconvenience to the public. (More)
