General Samaj Manch calls for Phagwara bandh tomorrow over renaming of chowk

Activists of the General Samaj Manch (GSM) tonight gave a call for Phagwara bandh tomorrow, after Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh gave in-principle approval for renaming the city's 'Gol Chowk' as 'Samvidhan (Constitution) Chowk'.

They demanded that the chowk be renamed as Shaheed Bhagat Singh Chowk.

The announcement of tomorrow's bandh was made by the General Samaj Manch's Phagwara President Vijay Sharma at the dharna site on Banga road.

On April 13, a clash had broken out between members of a Dalit outfit and Hindu right-wing groups over the renaming of the chowk.

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.

The chief minister, while directing the local administration to follow proper procedure for renaming the chowk, today 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.