Post-matric SC scholarship row: AAP leaders begin hunger strike in Ludhiana, demand action against Dharamsot

Say that the Punjab govt has put the future of over two lakh SC students at stake, as colleges are not issuing roll numbers to them, after the scholarship amount for the last three sessions was not released

As part of statewide protest against the state government, seeking the resignation of cabinet minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot for his alleged involvement in the post matric SC scholarship scam, three leaders of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Ludhiana’s Scheduled Caste wing started a week-long hunger strike at Jalandhar Bypass Chowk on Tuesday.

AAP leaders sitting on strike at Jalandhar Bypass Chowk in Ludhiana on Tuesday. (HT PHOTO)

Leader of opposition in the Vidhan Sabha, MLA Harpal Cheema, along with other senior leaders of the party participated in the protest.

The leaders who sat on strike were district president of SC wing (urban) Dharminder Singh Fauji, district president (rural) Amanchain Singh and district joint secretary (transport wing) Jagdish Saini.

They stated that the government has put the future of over two lakh SC students at stake, as the colleges are not issuing roll numbers to them after the scholarship amount for the previous three sessions was not released.

Cheema said, “To protest against the state government’s failure to take action against those involved in the scam, including cabinet minister Dharamsot, AAP leaders have sat on hunger strike at all districts in the state. The hunger strike will continue for seven days and if the government still fails to act, we will further intensify the agitation.”

A large number of AAP leaders and workers came together for the protest, throwing social distancing norms to the wind and many of them were also seen without masks.