Amritsar: Congress's half-an-hour protest chokes GT Road

Tribune News Service

Charanjit Singh Teja

Amritsar, June 17

On the call given by the local unit of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, party workers organised a protest against the Union Government for its alleged ill-conceived policies, at Putlighar Chowk, here on Friday. The demonstrators led by District Congress Committee (Urban) president Ashwani Kumar Pappu raised slogans against the Modi government.

Less than 100 Congress leaders and activists demonstrated for half an hour, but it choked the GT Road for around one and a half hours. Thousands of commuters were a harried lot as they got stuck and criticised the demonstrators. Ironically, the protesters blocked the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) lanes, which disrupted the frequency of Metro buses hence causing grave inconvenience to passengers.

Long queues of vehicles were witnessed on GT Road. Commuters took half an hour to cross the Putlighar Chowk. Cops were seen trying to manage traffic, but failed as no alternative routes were suggested prior to the protest.

Sarabjeet Singh, a resident of Urban Estate, said: “I had an appointment with the doctor and was supposed to reach by 11.50 am, but due to the demonstration, I failed to make it on time. There should be some dedicated space for demonstration, especially for political parties. Who gives them the right to close roads meant for common people for their own political interests?”

Kuljeet Singh, another commuter, said: “A handful of people block any intersection whenever it suits them. If the Congress has some issue with the Modi government’s policies, then why are they harassing the common public? The administration should provide them a space, where traffic is not affected. The police should book leaders for choking roads and causing traffic jams.”

Residentspeak

I had an appointment with the doctor and was supposed to reach by 11.50 am, but due to the protest, I failed to make it on time. There should be some dedicated space for demonstration, especially for political parties. Who gives them the right to close roads meant for common people for their own political interests? —Sarabjeet Singh, a resident of Urban Estate

A handful of people block any intersection whenever it suits them. If the Congress has some issue with the government, then why are they harassing the common public? The administration should provide them a space, where traffic is not affected. The police should book leaders for choking roads and causing traffic jams. —Kuljeet Singh, Another commuter

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