A Congress MLA has come forward in support of a former Bharatiya Janata Party MLA over police action against him on non-permitted protests in Bhopal. However, unfazed police administration has issued an order announcing to penalise all future protests which are held without the prior permission of the administration.
Former Bhopal BJP MLA Surendranath Singh had stunned the administration on July 19 by holding multiple protests at a dozen places through his supporters. The places targeted by the protests included CM House, Assembly, Mantralaya and several other high-profile establishments.
Stumped by the move, the administration had swung into action through emergency arrangements including deployment of huge force at the said places.
Days ago, the MP police issued a letter penalising the ex-MLA with Rs 23.76 lakh for the arrangements it had to make bring out police forces from routine and important duties. Not only BJP but the Congress also opposed the move.
First time Congress MLA Kunal Chaudhary had on Sunday categorically flayed the police action saying, “Holding protests was the basic right of the public representatives and penalising them for such demonstrations wasn’t right,”
Unfazed by the reservations of the ruling party MLA on its punitive action, MP police on Monday issued an order making it clear that all protests which take place without the prior permission of the administration would be subjected to legal action and expenses incurred in dealing with such demonstrations would be recovered from the organisers through district collector.