Man denied permission to distribute roses, copies of Constitution by cops

AHMEDABAD: City police denied permission to a man, Ravindra Bhartiya, to distribute red roses with copies of the Indian Constitution on the riverfront on Valentine’s Day, as police feared the programme may cause ‘law and order issues.’ Bhartiya said that he and his wife Shilpi had been attacked by Bajrang Dal workers last year on the riverfront on Valentine’s Day, and they decided to distribute roses and copies of the Constitution this year in response.M A Singh, inspector of Sabarmati Riverfront (West) police station said, “Bajrang Dal workers had threatened to create trouble if they saw any kind of celebration on Valentine’s Day on the riverfront. So, we did not allow Bhartiya’s application.”Bhartiya, a software engineer from Surendranagar, had on January 30 filed an application with police to hold the programme on riverfront on Thursday.In his application, Bhartiya had stated, “I want permission to distribute red roses and the Indian Constitution at riverfront so that an environment of love and harmony is created in the society. I would do the entire activity within the purview of law and constitutional provisions.”In response, the police on Wednesday sent him a letter signed by inspector of Sabarmati riverfront (West) police stating, “Your application is rejected and you please note that if you do any such activity (as mentioned in the application) then legal action will be initiated against you.” Bhartiya said, “I wanted people and police to understand that the Constitution is supreme and all have to act according to the Constitution which gives a message of liberty, equality and fraternity.”