Strongly condemning the cane charge on students in Nawanshahar who were protesting against the alleged non-disbursement of scholarships, Punjab Congress today demanded dismissal of Social Welfare minister on the issue.
Congress' state unit chief Pratap Singh Bajwa alleged that the state government had been holding back these scholarships time and again.
"The non-disbursement of the scholarship to Dalit students is a serious issue and it reflects the anti-Dalit face of the Parkash Singh Badal government. This is not for the first time that the scholarships had not been disbursed," Bajwa alleged.
He lambasted the state government for such a situation and said, what's more tragic was that the students demanding their dues were subjected to "police brutalities."
Demanding immediate dismissal of state Social Welfare Minister Gulzar Singh Ranike, he said "What should students do when they are denied of what is due to them and the funds for them received from the Centre are criminally diverted by the state government?"
He demanded a high level enquiry into the alleged repeated non-disbursement of funds and strong action against the erring officials.
"The Congress has been and will continue to fight for the rights of Dalits," Bajwa added.
On March 26, several students were injured after police cane charged them when they were moving towards the Deputy Commissioner's office in Nawanshahar in Punjab to submit their memorandum regarding non-disbursement of scholarship.
