Highlighting local issues, BSP activists go on fast

Five activists of the Bahujan Samaj Party, including its Punjab general secretary Jarnail Nangal, today went on a 3-day hunger strike to protest what they alleged anti-people policies of the Parkash Singh Badal government.
The protest was also aimed at highlighting local issues, party leaders said.
A party rally was held here before Nangal and four other BSP activists went on the fast.
BSP's Lok Sabha candidate from Hoshiarpur Bhagwan Singh Chauhan also participated in the protest.
Addressing the rally, Nangal said they were undertaking the 3-day hunger strike to protest "anti-people" policies of the SAD-BJP government in Punjab.
The BSP leader said their protest was also intended to draw attention of concerned authorities towards their demands.

These included construction of a new building for a school for girls, action against college authorities that force SC students to pay fees and withdrawal of "false" cases against dalit leaders, he said.
Nangal also demanded action against a TV channel for airing a programme which, he alleged, had "denigrated" Guru Ravi Das.
The next course of action would be chalked out on October nine in case their demands were not met, he said.