According to a senior functionary of the Gujarat Congress, the party plans to organize more than 300 conventions or “sammelans” in the state to protest against the failure of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government. The conventions will take place in 251 talukas, 33 districts, and eight metro centers between April 6-12 and April 15-25. The party has also invited Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to be a part of the protest, between April 20 and April 25, in Gujarat. Mr. Gandhi was last in Surat on March 23 when he was sentenced to two years in prison in a criminal defamation case, leading to his disqualification as a member of the Lok Sabha. The Gujarat Congress plans to go ahead with the protests irrespective of whether the police grant permission.
Mr Thakor’s statement suggests that the Gujarat Congress is planning to hold peaceful protests despite the possibility of the authorities denying them permission. He argues that it is the right of citizens in a democracy to protest peacefully and that the government’s fear of mass mobilization is a sign of its failure to address issues affecting different sections of society. However, it is important to note that protesting without permission can lead to legal consequences, and it is always advisable to follow the legal process for obtaining permission to protest.
Targeting the ruling party, Thakor said that the BJP uses anti-social elements who do not care about law and order.
