Years back, even as the UT administration earmarked Sector 25 protest site for holding demonstrations and rallies, the rule is rarely observed. Most recent major protests in the city have occurred at more central locations, such as the Sector 34 Exhibition Ground or the Matka Chowk in Sector 16. Even the recent week-long farmers’ protest was halted on the road leading into Chandigarh from Jagatpura Village in Mohali.
On asking why most of the recent farmer protests have been held in Sector 34, Rajewal added that the ground is fairly big, centrally located, right next to the offices of Punjab and in the midst of the city’s residents. He added that the Sector 25 ground should be used for bigger rallies, and said that Congress had chosen this place for Sonia Gandhi’s rally in 2014. When asked why police allow protests at places other than Sector 25, a senior police official said that their priority is to maintain peace and not to escalate the situation.
FIRs were registered in the recent Qaumi Insaaf Morcha protest in August due to protesters wielding swords. Further, Lucky added that the protesters are usually mindful about not causing too much inconvenience to the local residents. The recent farmer protests weren’t held with their NOC and the focus is on ensuring everyone’s safety when the protests happen. The police had to deploy drones to lob tear gas shells and wear special chainmail armour for this protest. Meanwhile, at most other protests water cannons are used by the police to control the situation. Tear gas is rare and only used where things can take a violent turn.
Speaking on this, farmer leader Balbir Singh Rajewal who was also present for the week long protest held earlier this month said, “it was a poor choice by the administration to make the protest site right next to the cremation ground which is considered inauspicious in Punjabi culture.
