Slug:Hoshiarpur bandh

Sikh, Dalit organisations and BJP come face to face

Our Correspondent

Hoshiarpur, January 25

The situation in the city remained tense during the Punjab bandh call given by various Sikh and Dalit organisations. The Bandh call was opposed by the BJP. Both the groups kept moving in the city, making shopkeepers to close and open their shops.

This situation reached its peak when the BJP activists arrived outside the Government Senior Secondary School at Ghanta Ghar Chowk to stop the march.

Police officers somehow handled the situation and tried to convince both sides, but both sides stick to their point.

The BJP, led by district president Vijay Pathania and general secretary councillor Nipun Sharma, were busy persuading shopkeepers to open the shops, while on the other side activists of various Sikh and Dalit organisations were busy asking the shopkeepers to close them.

On Saturday morning, a march was taken out from the local Prabhat Chowk led by leaders of Dal Khalsa, Shiromaniyakali Dal (A), Ambedkar Force, Shri Guru Ravidas Force, Bhagwan Valmiki Dharma Raksha Sangh, Christian National Front and Muslim Brotherhood. The protesters asked the owners of shops to close them.

The march commenced from Prabhat Chowk and after passing through Session Chowk, when reached near the City Police Station at Ghanta Ghar Chowk on the railway road, it was opposed by BJP supporters in front of the government school.

Meanwhile, addressing the protesters, former chief of Dal Khalsa, Harcharanjeet Singh Dhami, said that the BJP government at the Centre wants to suppress the voice of minorities and Dalits, and it will not be tolerated at any cost. On this occasion, Ambedkar Force president Anil Bagha said that the atrocities being committed on the minorities will not be tolerated.

On the other hand, among those who opposed the bandh, former Cabinet Minister Tishna Sood said these groups are deliberately misleading people, while whatever the law has been introduced by the central government, it is in the interest of the residents of the country.

The high-voltage drama started in the forenoon and continued for about 5 hours due to the two sides coming together. Ther activists, who were supporting the bandh sat on a dharna while the BJP activists also stood there in front of them.

Finally, a meeting was held with the leaders of both sides by the administration and the police and it was decided that the two sides will get up from where they are sitting and go their own way. After this, both sides started walking their way though slogans were also raised from both sides during this.

On behalf of the administration, Tehsildar Harminder Singh, Naib Tehsildar Gurpreet Singh, SP Parminder Singh, SP Dharamvir Singh, DSP Satindra Chaddha, DSP Jagdish Raj Attari, DSP Harjinder Singh, SHO City Gobinder Kumar and Inspector Bharat Masih were present with police force.