Rajkot: All kinds of protests against any raging issues have been banned near government offices in Junagadh district.
Additional collector P V Antani issued a public notification on Tuesday banning protests in the 200 metre periphery of government offices on the grounds that they leave the premises filthy, create noise pollution and law and order issues. The notification will remain in force for the next 60 days.
Protests can be regarding price rise in petrol, diesel and gas, farmers not getting appropriate price for their produce, feeling hurt by viral messages on social media about caste or anything.
The notification states, “Various political parties, social organizations and farmers’ organization protest against issues like price rise of petrol, diesel and gas in the state, not getting proper price for their produce, outstanding amount of groundnut procured at minimum support price (MSP), viral messages on social media regarding caste and others. The organizations protest, fast, chant slogans at various government office of district and taluka places. Applicants in many cases threaten self-immolation near government office. The issue of filth near government office also arises when people sit near the premises, besides creating noise pollution and obstructing the routine activity of government office.”
“They (protesters) lay siege to the government office and there is a possibility of damage,” it further states.
The additional district collector imposed CrPC Section 144 near government offices.
When contacted, Junagadh district collector Dr P S Zamsingh said, “There is nothing undemocratic about this. We are not muzzling people’s freedom of expression. We will allow peaceful demonstrations but outside the 200 metre periphery because there are other applicants who come for routine work. This is a tool so that if law and order issues arise, we can take action.”