Cong flays cane charge on students, demands Punjab Min’s dismissal

Chandigarh, March 28

Strongly condemning cane charge on students in Nawanshahar who were protesting against the alleged non-disbursement of scholarships, the Punjab Congress on Saturday demanded dismissal of Social Welfare minister on the issue.

Congress' state unit chief Pratap Singh Bajwa alleged that the state government had been holding back these scholarships..

"The non-disbursement of the scholarship to Dalit students is a serious issue and it reflects the anti-Dalit face of the Parkash Singh Badal government. This is not for the first time that the scholarships had not been disbursed," Bajwa alleged, adding that it was tragic students were subjected to "police brutalities."

Demanding immediate dismissal of state Social Welfare Minister Gulzar Singh Ranike, he said: "What should students do when they are denied of what is due to them and the funds for them received from the Centre are criminally diverted by the state government?"

He demanded a high-level inquiry into the alleged repeated non-disbursement of funds and strong action against those responsible.

"The Congress has been and will continue to fight for the rights of Dalits," Bajwa added.

On March 26, several students were injured after police cane charged them while tehyr were on their way to the deputy commissioner's office in Nawanshahar in Punjab to meet the official. — PTI