Protests are the constitutional right of people: Rashid Alvi

Congress leader Rashid Alvi on Thursday labelled the nationwide protest against the Centre’s latest big-ticket reforms as a constitutional way to express dissent

Interacting with mediapersons here, Alvi said, “To call for general strike or making analysis of the government falls under the constitutional rights of people and any political party. But it also leads to major difficulties for the common man. The general strike does not answer the problems, but it is their constitutional right. Yes, we very well know the strike is against the policies of the government.

Alvi, however, refused to comment on the current political crisis caused by the withdrawal of support by key government ally Trinamool Congress (TMC)

Alvi ruled out mid-term polls and said the Congress-led government at the Centre will complete its full term

“I do not want to comment on any political party but the government will complete its term,” he said

A number of political parties are observing a nationwide shutdown today against government’s ‘anti-people’ reforms

Last week, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh-led central government raised the prices of diesel and put a lid on the number of subsidised cooking gas cylinders to be provided to households living below the poverty line

A day later, the government gave a go-ahead to Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in retail sector, causing widespread furore across the political spectrum.