Chandigarh- Shiromani Akali Dal Punar-Surjit President Giani Harpreet Singh said that when the Constitution of India grants every citizen the right to hold peaceful protests and convey their concerns to the government, then why are Punjabis not allowed to protest in Chandigarh, their own capital? Why are they stopped from entering their own capital? And why are cases being registered against them for being denied the right to submit a memorandum outside the residence of the Chief Minister of their own state?
Giani Harpreet Singh further said that registering an FIR against members of the Waris Punjab De organization for holding a peaceful protest is a direct attack on democratic rights. In a democracy, issues should be addressed through dialogue, not FIRs.
The Chief Minister should himself have received the memorandum and clearly stated his position on the important issue of the release of Bandi Singhs. He should have taken the lead on this issue, just as he had demanded the release of Bandi Singhs before becoming the Chief Minister.
“We strongly condemn the restriction imposed on Punjabis, especially Sikhs, from holding peaceful protests in their own capital and the registration of FIRs against more than 3, 000 protesters, ” Giani Harpreet Singh said.