Gol Chowk to be renamed Samvidhan Chowk

Punjab Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh on Tuesday gave in-principle approval for renaming the Gol Chowk as Samvidhan Chowk in Phagwara town. There was a clash between two groups here on April 13 over installing a flex-banner with Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar’s picture on it.

Capt. Amarinder, who met a delegation of Dalit community here, including the families of the victims of the violence, said: “There is nothing wrong in naming the roundabout Samvidhan Chowk as our Constitution does not belong to any particular caste or creed and we all Indians are proud of it.”

He directing the local administration to follow proper procedure for renaming the chowk. The Phagwara Muncipal Corporation had already moved a resolution for its renaming.

Capt. Amarinder also directed DGP Suresh Arora to assess if provisions of the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act can be invoked against the perpetrators of the April 13 violence.

Appreciating the restraint shown by the Dalit community, the CM said harmony among people of different castes and religions was the basis of our social fabric and it needed to be strengthened. On the demand of the delegation regarding cancellation of FIRs registered by the police against Dalit youths, Capt. Amarinder directed the IGP, Jalandhar Range, to examine all such cases and submit a report to the DGP.