Priyank Kharge. Photo supplied with the announcement.
Bengaluru: Karnataka Home, e-Governance, Electronics, IT and Biotechnology Minister Priyank Kharge said the handling of protesters by Bengaluru Police on October 12 would be reviewed, while directing police to ensure peaceful demonstrations are not disrupted.
In his October 13 statement, Kharge said the right to peaceful protest must be respected and protected. He also appealed to demonstrators to cooperate with police and keep the authorities informed so that their safety and the rights of others could be safeguarded.
“The police are here to protect your rights, not to stand in the way of your voice,” he said.
Kharge said the government’s responsibility went beyond maintaining law and order to creating an environment in which citizens could express dissent freely, peacefully and without fear.
“In a democracy, peaceful dissent is not a threat to law and order. It is a right that law and order must protect,” he said.
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