DABWALI: Black colored clothing, including shawls, sweaters and jackals, were banned from the condolence meeting held here to mourn the death of over 400 persons who perished in a blaze here last week. Apparently, fearing a black flag demonstration at the condolence meeting attended by the Prime Minister, overzealous security personnel asked all those entering the venue to take off black colored clothes. Those wearing black trousers were asked to go home ‘and change their trousers. A large number of mourners wearing black clothes, who were refused entry to the condolence meeting, decided to stay away from the meeting. Some of them pointed out that black ‘was a color associated with mourning and it was natural for them to wear black colored clothes for a condolence meeting, They subsequently joined hundreds of other local residents who had boycotted the condolence meeting to protest the “apathy” of the district administration and the general neglect of the township over the years.
They said that roads had been repaid in the town overnight for the Prime Minister’s visit and “fake” patients had been admitted to the local health center here to impress the PM. They also complained against stringent security measures and “rude behavior by policemen. They alleged that Congress workers from the surrounding areas were brought to participate in the condolence meeting and pointed out that the PM had not visited the residence of any affected family. The unorganized mob later took out a procession and shouted slogans demanding a medical college and action ‘against the Deputy Commissioner The town, meanwhile, observed a hartal for the seventh consecutive day Groups of mourners went from house to house to express sympathy with the affected families.
Article extracted from this publication >> January 3, 1996
