Dhillon accuses govt of suppressing dissent, criticises poor road conditions

Shiromani Akali Dal leaders burned effigies of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Ludhiana East MLA Daljit Singh Bhola during a protest in Ludhiana, raising slogans against the state government over alleged suppression of dissent and poor road conditions.

Shiromani Akali Dal district president Ranjit Singh Dhillon alleged that the government was targeting critics by registering cases against those who spoke out against it.

Dhillon also alleged that incidents involving the release of rape accused after bribery had come to light. He compared the effigy burning to the Dussehra tradition of burning Ravana’s effigy to symbolise the destruction of evil.

Raising concerns over road conditions, Dhillon alleged that roads across Punjab had been dug up in the name of construction. Referring to Ludhiana East, he said damaged roads across the constituency had caused inconvenience to residents and fuelled public resentment against the government.