Members of the Gaddi community today protested the Chief Minister’s remarks against their community and unprovoked lathicharge by the police on protesters at Dal Lake last evening which left a number of Gaddis injured.

Members of the Gaddi community today protested the Chief Minister’s remarks against their community and unprovoked lathicharge by the police on protesters at Dal Lake last evening which left a number of Gaddis injured.

A large number of Gaddi people gathered at Sangam Park near Kotwali Bazar and were joined by other BJP leaders who came out to support them.

The protesters raised slogans against the state government, Chief Minister Virbhdra Singh, local MLA Sudhir Sharma and the Himachal Police. They moved through the main market and gheraoed the district police headquarters.

They held a demonstration outside the SP office. Former Transport Minister Kishen Kapoor, a prominent Gaddi leader, along with other members, met SSP, Kangra, Ramesh Chajta. Kapoor told The Tribune that the SSP denied that the police had ever indulged in using force but later on told the Gaddi leaders that an ASP would inquire the matter.

They submitted a memorandum to the Governor through Deputy Commissioner CP Verma.

They demanded the state government should be sacked and President’s rule be imposed on the state.

Kapoor said the Gaddi community had decided to meet the Chief Minister at 7 am this morning to ask him the reason why the police resorted to lathicharge when his motorcade had crossed the demonstration site but, surprisingly, the Chief Minister left at 6 am for Bilaspur.

He alleged that when the Chief Minister could not face people, he had no right to be in power and should be sacked. Meanwhile, former minister Major Vijai Singh Mankotia, the Khaniara Sangarsh Samiti, the Indunag Sewa Dal and other Gaddi outfits extended their support to the community in their struggle against the Chief Minister.