NEW DELHI:The Supreme Court on Wednesday said that strict action must be taken against individuals or political parties that destroy public property during any of their agitations.
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"We cannot allow people to burn nation's properties and hold the country to ransom in the name of agitation," the SC said.
The apex court said it would frame guidelines to punish people who damage or destroy public property. The bench also suggested that people might have to pay for the damage or loss of public property.
The court was hearing a plea filed by Hardik Patel challenging sedition charges against him. The court had in its previous hearing on Hardik's plea expanded its ambit to examine the issue of damage to public property during last year's Patel
reservation
agitation led by Hardik.
"Whether it is political party like BJP, Congress or any people, they must realize that public properties can't be destroyed in agitation," the SC bench headed by Justice JS Khehar said.
Indian industry has said that another pro
quota
stir, by the Jats in Haryana over the last week, had led to losses of Rs 34,000 crores in northern Indian states.
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