Postpone panchayat elections to November, Ravidass group urges govt
Several dalit groups have urged the government to postpone panchayat elections, slated to be held in October, to November in view of religious events.
Jassi Talhan, president, Guru Ravidass Tiger Force, has given a call for ‘bandh’ in Jalandhar district on October 4. The shutdown is likely to be observed by like-minded organisations too, if the government failed to postpone elections, he added.
Activists and leaders of the Guru Ravidass Tiger Force have expressed resentment against the government for holding panchayat elections on October 15, two days before the “Pargat Diwas” of Lord Valmiki on October 17.
Talhan stressed that considering the religious sentiments of the SC (Scheduled Castes) community, the date for the panchayat elections should be postponed. He said the government’s decision was against the SC community as shobha yatras for ‘Pargat Diwas’ are carried out throughout Punjab on October 16 by the followers of Valmiki.
In October, the followers of Valmiki remain busy in organising programmes and shobha yatras for the ‘Pargat Diwas’ of Valmiki. Poll date coincides with the Pargat Diwas events and followers would not be able to participate with vigour in both elections and religious programmes.
They added that due to security protocols during the panchayat elections, the preparations for the ‘Pargat Diwas’ would be disrupted and followers would not be able to make necessary preparations for the occasion.
Thus, the organisation leaders have demanded that the panchayat poll be postponed to November 2024 so that followers could participate in ‘Pargat Diwas’ with vigour and enthusiasm.
