Wayanad, Nov 12 : Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has said that people have a constitutional right to protest against government policies, including those of Congress-led administrations, as long as their demonstrations remain peaceful.
She made these remarks on Thursday while responding to questions from reporters in Wayanad about the recent police action against Lower Primary School Teacher (LPST) rank-holders protesting outside the Kerala Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram.
The protesters have been staging a demonstration for more than four months, demanding government appointments from the Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC) LPST rank list before it expires.
Priyanka Gandhi Reacts to Police Action Against LPST Protesters
On Wednesday night, police removed the hunger strike tent set up by the protesting LPST rank-holders outside the Secretariat. Their leader, Valarmathi, was also arrested and later shifted to a hospital after her health condition deteriorated.
Reacting to the incident, Priyanka Gandhi said that the right to protest is an essential part of democracy and is guaranteed by the Constitution.
She stressed that people should be allowed to express their opposition to government decisions and policies through peaceful demonstrations.
Peaceful Protests Should Be Allowed, Says Priyanka Gandhi
Priyanka Gandhi clarified that police intervention may be necessary if a protest turns violent, becomes excessively aggressive or causes harm to people.
However, she maintained that peaceful demonstrations should not be stopped, even when protesters are opposing the policies of a Congress-led government.
She also emphasised that the same principle applies to every government in the country, regardless of which political party is in power.
What Are the LPST Rank-Holders Demanding?
The Kerala LPST rank-holders have been protesting for more than four months, seeking appointments to government schools from the existing Lower Primary School Teacher rank list.
They want the Kerala Public Service Commission and the state government to complete the recruitment process before the rank list expires.
The police action against the protesters and the arrest of their leader have brought the long-pending teacher recruitment issue back into the spotlight.
Priyanka Gandhi’s comments have also highlighted the debate over the right to peaceful protest and the government’s responsibility to address the demands of job aspirants.
