New Delhi, Feb 17 (IANS): At a time when Delhi and other cities are witnessing anti-CAA protests, now-defunct Planning Commission's former Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia on Monday cautioned against labelling dissent as disloyalty.

Referring to the protests against Citizenship (Amendment) Act, the country's once- foremost policymaker told IANS: "There are many protests going on right now in the streets. I frequently hear, sort of, wherein dissent is equated with disloyalty. I think that's completely wrong. Peaceful dissent is an essential part of the democratic process. If people feel that's not happening, then I think the government should reassure them that, you know, they are under misapprehension and live up to those standards."

In an interview to IANS, Ahluwalia said: "I do feel that in a multi-identity, complex country (like India), expression of dissent is an essential part of democracy. To my knowledge, everyone recognises this. And if that's not happening, then we should worry."

His comments assume significance in the wake of a high-voltage and often acerbic campaigning in Delhi Assembly elections, including shouting of slogan "desh ke gaddaron ko, goli maro saalon ko" at a rally addressed by Union Minister Anurag Thakur.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, during the campaigning, "Earlier it was that the Congress used to feed biryani in Kashmir, now it is (Delhi Chief Minister Arvind) Kejriwal who is doing the same in Shaheen Bagh...."

Speaking on the importance of dissent, Ahluwalia pointed to Rahul GAndhi's act of tearing up an ordinance copy during the UPA rule.

"You must realise, in a democracy, there is nothing wrong to have dissent within the party. I don't think there's much merit in running a party in a way in which everyone in a party simply endorses what the party leadership thinks. This is an example of democratic dissent surfacing (within the party). In my view nothing wrong with it."