Chandigarh, June 25: Acceding to Punjab government's request, the BSP today shifted the venue and postponed the date of its proposed protest rally from Jalandhar, which witnessed clashes between Dalits and Sikhs over control of a gurdwara. "The dhikkar rally, which was to be held in Jalandhar on July 7 and addressed by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati, will now be held in Chandigarh on July 15," senior BSP leader and in-charge of state affairs Narendra Kashyap told reporters here.

He said the rally has been renamed as 'swbhimaan' rally as the sentiments of Dalit Samaj in Punjab were "hurt" by the state government's approach.

He said Mayawati and senior party leader Mayawati would address the rally on the changed date and at the new venue.

Asked if the BSP's decision to shift the venue had anything to do with Chief Minister Amarinder Singh urging Mayawati to postpone the date and shift venue of the rally from Buta Mandi in Jalandhar, Kashyap, however, said the move had nothing to do with it.

"We will be holding it right under his (Amarinder's) nose in Chandigarh...Amarinder has restrained the BSP from holding the rally in Jalandhar by imposing Section 144 in the district and giving excuse that the situation can flare up once again," Kashyap said.

It was in contrast to district administration's stance that there was no problem in holding the rally, he said, adding "the feelings of Dalits have been hurt by the Congress government's approach and our party high command directed us to change the venue".

Bureau Report