Ludhiana: Congress workers protest against 'anti-people' policies in state

Scores of Congress workers on Monday protested against the alleged "anti-people" policies of the Punjab government at the Mini-secretariat at Ludhiana, during which they were allegedly lathi-charged.

Congress activists led-by local Congress MP Ravneet Singh Bittu along with MLAs Bharat Bhushan Ashu and Surinder Dawar, and district Congress Committee president Gurpreet Gogi were rounded up after they tried to force their way to the Mini Secretariat, police said.

The party leaders allegedly attempted to lock the main gate of the DC office situated inside the Mini Secretariat when the police resorted to lathi-charge.

"The protest was against the anti-people policies of the state government, especially against the increase in the rate of VAT on petrol, diesel and electricity etc," Bittu said.

Meanwhile, ADCP (Crime) Mukhwinder Singh Bhullar, who was supervising the law and order situation, denied that the police resorted to lathi-charge.

"Around 150 protesters were rounded up when they broke the two police barricades put up to stop their entry," he said, adding that the MP was immediately released and others are also being released in batches.

However, Bharat Bhushan Ashu alleged that nearly 15 persons, including him and Bittu, received injuries in the lathi-charge.

Bittu alleged that the state was being ruled by different mafias with the patronisation of the ruling party.

"There is no rule of law in the state. Everything is depending on the whims of the Badals," the Congress leader said.