Chandigarh, September 15, 2018: Punjab and Haryana High Court has allowed rally by Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) at Faridkot for which the state government had refused permission.
Hearing the SAD plea on Saturday, the HC Bench of Justice RK Jain directed the state government to allow the rally. The party had termed the government step as suppression of its democratic right to hold public rally.
The SAD is now allowed to organise rally on September 16 at Faridkot.
The SAD counsel and former Punjab AG, Ashok Aggarwal contended that the government was deliberately trying to link rally venue to Bargari which was located at a distance of 40 kilometres.
The government had denied permission for the pol khol rally by the SAD scheduled for September 16 citing apprehension of violence that may distrub law and order situation.
The Sikhs led by parallel jathedars are on protest at Bargari demanding action in sacrilege and firing incidents. Their support has increased after Justice (retd) Ranjit Singh Commission, set up by the state government for probe, pointed an accusing finger at the then Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal among others in its report.
The state machinery has reportedly taken note of the increasing support to the protesters.