Amarinder agrees to rename Gol Chowk in Phagwara

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today gave in-principle approval for renaming the Phagwara city's 'Gol Chowk' as 'Samvidhan (Constitution) Chowk'.

The chief minister, who met a delegation of Dalit Samaj, including the families of the victims of the violence, was apprised that the Phagwara Municipal Corporation had already moved a resolution for renaming the chowk, an official release said.

"There is nothing wrong in naming the roundabout as Samvidhan Chowk, as our Constitution does not belong to any particular caste or creed and we all Indians are proud of it", he said while directing the local administration to follow proper procedure for renaming the chowk.

He also directed the district administration to ensure the best possible medical treatment for the victims of the April 13 Phagwara clashes.

The clashes had erupted in Phagwara on April 13 between Dalit outfit and Hindu right-wing groups.

The incident had taken place when members of a group led by Dalit workers allegedly installed a board carrying a picture of Dalit icon B R Ambedkar at Gol Chowk on the National Highway-1. They also tried to rename it Samvidhan Chowk.

However, members of another group objected to it and that led to a clash between both the groups. Four persons were injured in the incident.

Meanwhile, responding to the request of the family members of Yashwant Bobby, who sustained serious bullet injuries, the chief minister said that it was the duty of his government to ensure best possible treatment for him.

He directed the district administration to seek a second opinion on his condition from doctors at PGI and then shift him, if needed, to the best hospital in Delhi or Chandigarh.

He assured Bobby's family members that the government would bear the entire expenditure of his treatment.

The chief minister also directed the DGP, Suresh Arora, to assess if stringent provisions of SC/ST Prevention of the Atrocities Act can be invoked against the perpetrators of the April 13 violence.

When some delegation members pointed at the "biased" role of certain police personnel during the violence, the chief minister directed the DGP to inquire into the same and take necessary action.

Appreciating the 'restraint' shown by the Dalit community, the chief minister said harmony and brotherhood amongst people of different castes and religions was the basis of our social fabric and it needed to be further strengthened.

On their demand of cancellation of FIRs registered by police against Dalit youths, the chief minister directed the IGP, Jalandhar Range, to examine all such cases and submit a report to the DGP.

During the meeting, the Singh was also apprised by the DGP of the prevailing law and order situation in the city. He said more than 3,500 policemen have been deployed in and around Phagwara to prevent any untoward incident.

The affected families, under the banner of Dalit Brotherhood Action Committee, also submitted a memorandum of their demands to the chief minister and assured of their continued support in restoring normalcy and calmness in Phagwara.