Punjab to allow 'peaceful' student protest against CAA on Jan 1: CM Amarinder Singh

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has said that his government would t stop students from protesting against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and or controversial actions of central government, but would t allow state’s peace to be disturbed at any cost.

Referring to proposed January 1 statewide protest by left-aligned student unions against CAA, as well as National Register of Citizens (NRC) and National Population Register (NPR), Chief Minister said protest was democratic right of every citizen of India and people, including students, were within ir right to st peaceful dharna, march, etc. against se draconian initiatives of central government, as long as such protests were conducted peacefully.

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Punjab opposed to CAA, NRC

Even his government, Captain Amarinder pointed out, was totally opposed to CAA, NRC, etc in view of fundamentally divisive and discriminatory nature of legislation initiated by BJP-led government at Centre. In fact, during an anti-CAA dharna organised by Punjab Congress in Ludhiana on Monday, he had reiterated his government’s decision t to allow controversial legislation to be implemented in state under any circumstances.

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tolerance to vandalism

re was, thus, question, of barring students from coming out against se actions of central government, Amarinder said, making it clear that as long as protestors did t take law in ir hands in any manner, police would t prevent m from carrying out ir proposed campaign. However, Chief Minister warned that violence or destruction of public property would be tolerated during planned protest. police had been directed to come down heavily against any attempt by protestors to vandalise public property or orwise indulge in any violence during ir protest, he added.

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Keep a sharp eye for miscreants

Captain Amarinder Singh also urged student leaders to ensure that proposed protest is carried out peacefully and to keep a check for possible infiltration of miscreants among protestors. It may be ted that peaceful protests in some or states had ended up in violence due to such infiltrations.  police will, said Chief Minister, maintain a strict vigil t just in and around university campuses but in or sensitive areas and public places across state, throughout day.

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