The Fact News Service
Chandigarh, January 31
The General Secretary of the All India Congress Committee and former Union Minister, Kumari Selja said that every person has the right over the dead body of their loved one, but the BJP-JJP alliance government has even taken that away.
The Cabinet’s decision on the penalty for demonstrating with a corpse is entirely against public opinion. The law, akin to a Tughlaqi decree, to send those protesting with a corpse to jail and impose fines is absurd. In a statement released to the media, Kumari Selja said that the BJP-JJP alliance government is rattled due to the potential defeat in the elections.
Hence, they have approved the Haryana Honourable Disposal of Dead Body Bill 2024. This bill includes provisions for imprisonment ranging from 6 months to 5 years and a fine of up to one lakh rupees for demonstrating or causing road jams with a corpse.
It is evident that the government does not want the bereaved family members to raise their voice for justice against deaths caused by the bureaucratic system.
Selja said that it is neither a state symbol to protest with the corpse nor do the people of the state consider it a matter of pride to demonstrate with the corpse. Instead of immediately performing the last rites with religious beliefs, people are compelled to protest with the corpse against the injustice done in hospitals, private or government.
Many times, the only means to raise their voice against the injustices of the bureaucratic system or directly against the responsible government machinery is through protest or demonstration with the corpse.
The former Union Minister Selja said that snatching the dead body from a person for the final rites is against religious beliefs, while such a provision has been included in the bill.
After the enforcement of this law, not only will there be an increase in police brutality, but there is also a possibility of negligence in treatment in hospitals.
The state government should immediately stop implementing this law made entirely against public sentiments, otherwise, the people of the state will teach a good lesson to the alliance government in the elections while respecting public sentiments.
