A delegation of Congress Members of Parliament on Tuesday submitted a memorandum to the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC), seeking its immediate intervention into the brutal police excesses against sanitation workers belonging to the Scheduled Caste community during a protest in Barnala.
The memorandum, addressed to NCSC Chairman Kishor Makwana, said that sanitation workers were subjected to excessive police force, including a baton charge, while peacefully protesting for their “legitimate rights and demands.” Meanwhile, PCC president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring held the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann responsible for the police brutalities against the sanitation workers as he heads the Home department under which the police comes.
Warring described the sanitation workers as ‘Rabb de bandhe’, (the children of God0 who ensure cleanliness everywhere. The Congress MPs who included PCC president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, Dr Amar Singh, Dr Dharamvir Gandhi and Gurjeet Singh Aujla, said that instead of addressing the grievances of the protesting workers, the district administration and police resorted to force, leaving several sanitation workers injured.
The MPs sought an impartial inquiry into the incident and appropriate legal action against those responsible. Describing the incident as a matter of serious concern, the MPs said it raised questions over the protection of the constitutional rights, dignity and safety of members of the Scheduled Caste community.
The delegation requested the NCSC to examine the matter under its constitutional mandate, seek a report from the Punjab government and the Barnala district administration, ensure an impartial inquiry into the incident and recommend measures to safeguard the rights of the affected workers. The memorandum also called for fixing accountability in accordance with the law and urged the Commission to intervene promptly in the matter.
The Congress delegation expressed hope that the Commission would give the matter due consideration and take appropriate action to protect the rights of the Scheduled Caste community. Later talking to reporters, Warring said that the buck stops at the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann who heads the Home Department under which the police come.
Drawing parallels, he said, like Sukhbir Badal is being held accountable for the police firing in Bargadi against peaceful protestors, same way Bhagwant Mann being the Chief Minister and Home Minister is accountable for the police brutalities against the sanitation workers.
He also announced that the Punjab Congress will go to the High Court and seek action against the guilty cops and get justice for the sanitation workers.