DW BUREAU / CHANDIGARH The National Scheduled Castes Alliance, a social organization for uplifting and reforming lives of the Scheduled Castes community, today started a protest dharna and indefinite symbolic hunger strike at the Rally Ground, Sector 25. Paramjit Singh Kainth, President, National Scheduled Castes Alliance, said the National Scheduled Castes Alliance and other Fraternal organizations such Nav Nirman Kranti Dal, Dr Ambedkar Mahasabha, Bhagwan Valmiki Seva Sangh, Bajigar Organiztion, Bhrischtachar Ate Atyachar Virodhi Front, Young Advocates Club, Anusuchit Jaati Vichar Manch, Valmiki-Majbhi Singh Mahansanghthan, Sahara Welfare Society, Dr Ambedkar Welfare Society, Sabha, Dr. Ambedkar Valmiki Sena, Sudhar Welfare Society, Guru Ravidas Welfare society supported the call for protest. He said that it had been decided to stay here till their demands were met. Their demands include resignation of Sadhu Singh Dharamsot from the Cabinet ministerial position and also a CBI inquiry to investigate his role in the Post-Matric Scholarship scam. Another demand is that the Village Common Land Act be amended and it be made legally assured that the rights of the people granted land through auction is not infringed upon and no one is forced to step down from participating in the auctions Kainth said that more than 3 lakh students who registered with the government portal had been blatantly rejected admission into the educational institutions in Punjab and there were more than 6 lakh students who had not been given degree/certificates during the last three years by these institutions due to the non-disbursal of funds by the Punjab government to these colleges and universities. He said that these students should be allowed to enroll and get admission in the colleges as well as those who have not been given degrees/certificates for their academic courses be given the same so that they can pursue further studies and find employment in relevant fields. (editor@dailyworld.in)