Protesting Venue
First of all I must congratulate Chandigarh Administration for allowing a site in sector-25 and the protesters have not to fight tooth and nail for the site to stage their protest like Mr.Anna Hazare team. At least Chandigarh Administration has allotted this vaccant land. It took many years for the Chandigarh Administration to shift the common popular protest venue from Matka Chowk to this present place. Keeping in view the problems of the commuters who got stuck in traffic jams and traffic chaos caused due to frequent rallies and protests. Matka Chown had been a venue of choice for the employees/politicians/trade unionists of Punjab, Haryana and Union Territory Chandigarh being capital of both Punjab and Haryana. Since I had been a employees state president of both Punjab and Union Territory for long time as such to my experience the employees and trade unions have been much more accomodating and had a good rapid with the police and therefore never created such a situtaion which embarrsed the police, unions as well as the commuters. The main purpose of the unions are to highlight their demands and remain away from the politics. But the situation became grave when Kisan Union staged Dharna near Matka Chowk. I have seen the condition of the Rose Garden where the farmers used to liter and gave foul smell and damaged the beautiful Rose Garden but at that time it was not propsed to shift. Chandigarh Administration had shifted the venue to sector-25 just to please the owner of the Taj Hotal which is adjoing to Matka Chowk.
The site selected for protest rallies is not the right place. This place may be suitable for the politicians who have ways and means to bring electronic and press media to highlight their protests of appeasement for vote bank. But the very purpose of the protests by the employees and trade unionists is forefieted as none other listen to them then their own people who already knows the demands. Chandigarh Administration should differenciate between the rallies and protests of politicians and the employees organisation. Chandigarh is the city of employees and as such they should be allowed to hold protest rallies at Circus Ground in sector-17 or exhibition ground in sector-34. I would not ask for Prade Ground as it is close to the District Courts. We have been holding protest rallies during lunch hours in sector-17 without any problem with police, commuters and the shop keepers. I still remember that the owner of the shops used to attend our rallies during lunch hours and share their views after the rally is over. Let the cause of protest be part of the general public.After all their are also part of the society and they should know why the protest is going on to enable to built up public opinion? Chandigarh Administration should shift this venue as it is adjoining to cremation ground and a person who is on its last rite may rest in peace.C
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VIEWS OF Kulbhushan Kanwar,Ex.State President,Punjab State Ministerial Services Union.,
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