Dalits block university gates in Patiala

shalender@tribune.com

Tribune News Service
Patiala, August 13

Members of the Ravidassia community on Tuesday blocked the gates of Punjabi University and protested at the city bus stand against the Supreme Court’s order of demolition of a temple in Delhi. The protesters took out a march towards the Deputy Commissioner’s (DC) office. 

Markets in the city witnessed a partial shutdown. Almost all shops near the bus stand remained closed due to the protest while government offices functioned normally. Later, the protesters submitted a memorandum to the DC which was addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The National Scheduled Castes Alliance called the demolition a draconian order. Paramjit Singh Kainth, president of the organisation, said, “The historical temple of Guru Ravidas in New Delhi was demolished by the DDA authorities. We will not stop until the government makes amends. We demand that the temple be constructed again. The government should apologise to the community for this mistake.”