BSP holds protest; demands addition of section 153 (a) in FIR against Bhaur

Tribune News Service

Nawanshahr, September 10

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Guru Ravidas Welfare Trust and other organisations held a protest on Monday to demand addition of Section 153 (a) in FIR against Sukhdev Singh Bhaur who has been in judicial custody for allegedly hurting sentiments of Dalit community.

The case has been registered against Bhaur under Section 295 (a) of the IPC.

The members were heading towards the main gate of district courts, but were stopped by the police by installing barricades.

The members then handed over the memorandum to SSP Deepak Hilori and asked him to add a case against him under Section 153 (a) (Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence and language and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) of the IPC.

General Secretary of BSP Punjab Nachattar Pal said Bhaur’s remarks had hurt their sentiments and feelings. “Dalits are enraged after his remarks,” he said.

Former SGPC general secretary and Aam Aadmi Party leader Sukhdev Singh Bhaur was arrested on Friday.

In a speech delivered at Bargari village in Faridkot district, Bhaur had allegedly made objectionable remarks against Dalits in general and the local Dera Sachkhand Ballan in particular. The speech has gone viral on the social media. On Friday, members of the SC community from Phagwara and Jalandhar gathered in large numbers and gheraoed Bhaur’s house in Banga. A heavy police force was deployed. Ludhiana Range DIG Ranbir Singh Khatra, too reached the spot.