Fundamentalists will not be allowed to vitiate atmosphere of Punjab: Lok Surakhiya Manch

Silence of state government in Govt. College for Boys case intriguing Ludhiana, April 28, 2019: The Lok Surakhiya Manch Ludhiana criticized continuous efforts by the fundamentalist forces to curb right to speech and freedom of expression. In a seminar organized today in context of the recent happening at the SCD Government College for Boys, Ludhiana where not only a play named Museum was stalled by certain disrupters on the plea that it hurts religious feelings but the administration registered case against the Principal, a teacher and 12 students without going into full details of the event. Various speakers on the occasion said that it is intriguing why the state government has kept mum on such a big incident which involves its own institution. Even the local Congress Ministers, MLAs and MP who are supposed to be custodians of the constitution have not uttered a word on it. The play in question had been approved by the Panjab University and has won several high level awards in youth festivals. If this is the state of affairs in a congress ruled state, what must be the condition in the states which are ruled by the RSS patronized BJP the speakers questioned? There have been several incidents of violence resulting into fatalities of rationalist thinkers and writers including Dbholkar, Pansare, Kulburgi and Gauri Lankesh. Many social activists are lodged in jails for allegedly being involved in Maoist activities without any evidence. Constitution of India gives us right to freedom of expression unless it instigates violence against the state or inter-communal hatred. But the state has become pawn in the hands of the RSS fundamentalists. Fundamentalism of all hues has to be fought back. The seminar called upon the people to thwart such nefarious designs. It also criticized the Blasphemy law passed by the Punjab Assembly. The seminar decided to continue struggle till case is registered against those activists for lodging false complaint and vitiating the atmosphere. Those who addressed the seminar include Dr Arun Mitra, Prof Jaipal Singh, Jaswant Zeerakh, Dr Gagandeep Singh,M S Bhatia, Naval Chhibber Advocate, Dr Gulzar Pandher, Rupila Mohini Advocate, S P Singh, Charan Sarabha, Sat Pal Sharma, Gurmail Canada.