What lies behind the recent unrest in Punjab following an incident involving the desecration of a copy of the Guru Granth Sahib? This article situates the protests following the incident in their social, economic and political contexts and argues that the turmoil has its roots in the erosion of credibility of religious and political institutions in the state.
The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 provides complete impunity to the law-enforcing agencies to conduct their activities in an unlawful manner. The judiciary has also become an accomplice. The presence of this act in Indian law statute books will always assure law-enforcing agencies that they are above the law.
The recently passed Punjab (Prevention of Damage to Public and Private Property) Bill, 2014, considered draconian by civil rights activists, circumscribes the right of the people to protest against state government policies.
