Don’t gag unemployed youths: Capt Singh

Condemning use of force against protesting trained and educated unemployed youth at the Akali Dal rally at Damdama Sahib in Talwandi Sabo on Thursday,Punjab Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh on Friday warned the government against gagging those who want to be heard peacefully.

Capt Singh expressed shock over the way the youth were manhandled,gagged and dragged out of the rally. “What’s more shocking is that all this happened in presence of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his deputy. Moreover,they did not deem it necessary to intervene. Instead,the CM described the youths as mischievous elements,” he said.

He called for long-term measures to tackle the problem of unemployment in the state. “There are about 45 lakh educated unemployed youth in the state. By physically gagging and shutting their mouth we cannot stop them from raising their voice.”