Nawanshahr:- A meeting of the Anti-Fascist Forum, District Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, was held at Shaheed Malkiat Chand Mehli Bhawan on Banga Road, Nawanshahr. Addressing the gathering, Kulwinder Singh Waraich, Jaswinder Bhangal, and Kuldeep Singh Daurka expressed concern over what they described as the shrinking democratic space in the country.
The speakers alleged that the BJP-RSS-led government at the Centre is undermining the democratic and federal structure of the nation. They also highlighted rising unemployment and inflation as major issues affecting the common people.
During the meeting, the forum raised several demands, including resolving Punjab’s river water dispute in accordance with the riparian principle, handing over the management of Punjab’s headworks to the state, dissolving the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), repealing the Dam Safety Act, and ending central intervention in matters related to rivers and dams.
The forum also demanded the inclusion of Punjabi-speaking areas into Punjab, the transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab, the withdrawal of the National Education Policy, and granting Punjab the authority to appoint Vice-Chancellors of universities within the state, including those in Chandigarh.
Other demands included the repeal of laws such as the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the National Security Act, and other laws the forum described as anti-people. The forum also called for the withdrawal of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), NRC and NPR, restoration of previous labour laws by scrapping the labour codes, and protection of the rights of religious, ethnic, and cultural minorities.
The meeting resolved to organize a **district-level protest on June 22** to raise these and other public-interest issues. On the occasion, a memorandum addressed to the President of India will be submitted through the Deputy Commissioner.
Forum leaders appealed to people from all sections of society to participate in large numbers and support the movement.