Champions of individual freedom were shocked, sometime back, by the news titled ‘Operation Majnu’ in Meerut which recounted how a young couple enjoying a walk in a city park was manhandled and harassed by the Meerut Police. Similar news came from Bombay where the city police slapped couples for their alleged ‘indecent behavior’ on the seafront. Such incidents, of course, are unheard of in the free societies in the West. Both the incidents from Meerut and Bombay elicited the same response here: Thank God for Delhi.

This is not to say that Delhi is a safe city. It is still a travelers’ nightmare. The safety of the women often makes shocking news. But the city police deserves to be commended for allowing you some level of personal freedom.

Nidhi Mohanty, who works with a content management company in Delhi, says, "No cop comes breathing down your neck if you are taking a walk with a friend at Nehru Park, even at 11 at night. And nobody's going to bother you if you are having a midnight ice-cream at India Gate."

Dinesh Chail, who earlier worked in Lucknow and shifted to Delhi last year, confirms this impression. He was struck by the freedom and space that the citizens of Delhi enjoy. Twenty seven year old Dinesh turned down a better job offer from Bombay precisely on this issue. Says Dinesh,"It's a basic freedom. But just how many places allow you that? Even Mumbai doesn't match up to Delhi on this front.” He cites the news of moral policing on couples sitting by the seaside, the crackdown on dance bars and the state government saying no to sex education in schools.

Vijay Chaudhary, an assistant manager at Shalom Med Loung at Greater Kailash agrees with Dinesh saying, "Delhi's pretty chilled out. The nightlife is good, the city's open-minded and people don't frown upon boys and girls hanging out together.”

Rajiv Lal, who works at Kylin Lounge, Vasant Vihar, confirms, “The city is getting a new shape and an international portfolio. In the last few years, a lot of people from Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai have made Delhi their home and added to its cosmopolitan culture.”

To cap it all there is happy news that the Supreme Court has allowed women to work as bar- tenders in the capital. The Delhi government deserves a pat for fostering this spirit of freedom. It has extended the time for serving liquor by one hour, to 1 am. The time limit is expected to be extended up to 3 am by 2010.