Punjab HC allows SAD to hold 'Pol Khol' rally tomorrow
(PTI desk)
The Punjab and Haryana High Court today granted permission to the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) to hold a rally at Faridkot tomorrow. A single bench of Justice RK Jain also directed the Punjab government to provide adequate security during the rally. The directions came after the opposition party yesterday moved the HC, seeking directions to grant permission for holding a rally.
Petitioner says it was the right to freedom of expression
The petitioner, SAD spokesperson Daljit Singh Cheema, said, "The court also put a stay on the order of the Faridkot SDM who denied the permission to hold the rally." He said it was the right to freedom of speech and expression. A notice of motion was also issued by the court for September 17 to seek a reply from the state government.
District administration had denied SAD to hold rally
Yesterday, Faridkot district administration had denied SAD to hold a 'Pol Khol' rally, as the police had apprehended that there could be violence between Akali workers and radical Sikhs protesting at Bargari about 40km from the venue, the way it had happened on September 5.
Why does SAD want to hold the rally?
Meanwhile, former Punjab CM, Parkash Singh Badal, had yesterday described the ban as "broad daylight murder of democracy". 'Pol Khol' is a part of SAD's counteroffensive plan against the Congress government, as the latter, through the Ranjit Singh Commission report, has blamed Badal of ordering the use of force on those protesting against the incidents of sacrilege at Behbal Kalan in October 2015.
