Valmiki bandh call evokes big response in city

Tribune News Service
Neeraj Bagga
Amritsar, September 7

A complete bandh was observed in the city on the call of Valmiki organisations on Saturday.

These organisations were protesting against the telecast of serial “Ram Siya Ke”, which was banned by Deputy Commissioner Shivdular Singh Dhillon yesterday.

Routine life was thrown out of gear as all commercial markets, shops, petrol pumps and other establishments downed their shutters. The strike passed off peacefully with no untoward incident reported.

Many private and society-run educational institutes were also closed.

Some roads were blocked for vehicular traffic, especially, leading to Bhandari Railway overbridge where leaders of the community were addressing.

Groups of youth were seen riding motorbikes to enforce closure of shops. While police vehicles were seen following them to keep a watch over their activities. Some youths were seen brandishing swords, blunt weapons like baseball bats and sticks.

Ravinder Hans, convener of the Phule Ambedkar Joint Action Committee, Punjab, addressing members of the committee said their religious feelings were deeply hurt by the contents of the serial which must be removed.

He demanded that about 600 years old Ravidas temple, which was pulled down in Delhi sometime back, should be reconstructed soon.

However, groups of youth holding clubs, base bats and sticks could be seen riding on bikes. Violating traffic rules, as many as four youngsters were seen riding motorbikes. Most of the city roads were deserted and shops closed.

Commercial hubs of the city, including wholesale textile markets like Katra Ahluwalia, Shastri Market, Tahli Wala Bazaar, Pratap Bazaar and nearby streets, were closed.

Similarly, stationery items market, Mai Sewa Wala Bazaar, gold and silver ornaments market Guru Bazar, Bhandiyan Wala Bazaar, Chaurasti Attari and Batti Hatta were closed.

Grain markets like Daal mandi, Mishri bazaar, Swank mandi, Wadi Dhab, Dhab Wasti Ram, Lachchmansar chowk and surrounding areas were also found completely shut. Commercial establishments in the rest of the city were also closed.

Factories at industrial areas like Focal Points on the GT road, Mehta road, Islamabad, Chheharta and others areas of the city were also closed.