Jalandhar(06/05/2025): Sukhpal Singh Khaira, MLA and senior Congress leader, strongly condemned the order issued by the Punjab government led by Bhagwant Mann that bans protests disrupting public life. Khaira termed this a direct attack on democratic principles.
Khaira claimed that the order issued by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on May 5, 2025, violates Article 19(1)(a) of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees freedom of speech and expression, and Article 19(1)(b), which ensures the right to assemble peacefully.
He pointed out that the directive from the Punjab government threatens strict legal action against protests that block roads or railways, labeling such actions as "anti-people." According to Khaira, this is an attempt to suppress dissent and silence the voice of Punjab's citizens.
Khaira referred to recent farmers’ protests in Punjab, such as the December 2024 bandh, during which farmers blocked roads to demand MSP and other rights. He noted that such movements have historically been a vital means of expressing grievances in the state.
Khaira described the complete ban on protests—even peaceful ones—as another step toward making Punjab a police state, calling it not only undemocratic but also authoritarian in nature.
He accused the government of hypocrisy, noting that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), under Mann’s leadership, has itself organized rallies and protests that disrupted public life.
He warned that restricting the right to protest sets a dangerous precedent and drew parallels with Punjab’s historical struggles, emphasizing that the freedom of expression played a crucial role in India's independence movement.
Khaira demanded that the Punjab government immediately withdraw the order and urged the judiciary to intervene, stressing that the Supreme Court has consistently held that restrictions on fundamental rights must be reasonable and subject to judicial review.
He called upon the Indian National Congress (INC) and its Punjab unit (INC Punjab) to unite against this "draconian" order and reiterated his commitment to safeguarding the constitutional rights of the people of Punjab.
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Politics