More than 50 individuals have been booked in Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi district for showing black flags and raising “go back” slogans at Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi. Officials said the protesters also tried to stop his vehicle. Cases have been filed against them for wrongful restraint, unlawful assembly, and rioting.
Negi visited the flood-hit areas of Seraj assembly constituency on Friday. He was met by angry protesters who opposed the shifting of the College of Horticulture and Forestry from Thunag.
Videos that have gone viral show protesters waving black flags, throwing shoes at the minister’s car, and trying to gherao it.
The Congress alleged that the protest was supported by the BJP. Seraj is the home constituency of Leader of the Opposition and former chief minister Jai Ram Thakur.
The Mandi police registered a case under charges of under Sections 126 (2), 189 (2) (wrongful restraint), 190 (unlawful assembly), 191 (2) (rioting) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
BJP workers from Janjheli and Thunag in the Seraj assembly constituency, which was badly hit by recent floods, joined the protest on Friday.
Seraj BJP Mandal president Bhishm Thakur said black flags were shown to the minister in Janjheli, and workers shouted "go back" slogans. He added that they also opposed the shifting of the College of Horticulture and Forestry from Thunag.
Former BJP state president Satpal Singh Satti criticised the Congress government and slammed the revenue minister for visiting the flood-hit Seraj area 26 days after the disaster. He said locals were also upset about the shifting of the college and showed black flags in protest.
Speaking to the media, he said protestors were manhandled by the police and cases were filed against them. He accused the government of trying to suppress people's democratic rights.
At least 15 people lost their lives and 34 are still missing after a cloudburst, flashfloods, and landslides hit Seraj, Nachan, Dharampur, and Karsog constituencies in Mandi district on the night of June 30 and July 1. Seraj was the worst-hit area in the state.
Earlier, Negi said, "Peaceful meetings were held at three places and people met me with their representation at Thunag rest house on Friday for not shifting the College of Horticulture and Forestry from Thunag, and I told them that the matter would be taken up with the government."
However, he said the protesters kept demanding a public statement in support of their demand and tried to stop his vehicle while raising slogans, even though he had already listened to their concerns.
He added that the current location of the horticulture college is not safe, doesn't have proper hostel facilities, and even the students want it to be shifted.
Negi’s remark that many regions were affected but Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur was only focused on his own constituency triggered strong reactions from the BJP.
Minister Negi responded saying he met residents at three different places and listened to their concerns about the college. He assured them that the matter would be discussed with the government. However, he said trying to block his vehicle and forcing a public statement was not the right way to raise demands.
Negi also said the current location of the college is unsafe, lacks proper hostels, and even some students want it shifted.
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