Farmers open Ladhowal toll barrier, block tax collection over sacrilege law delay
BKU demanded a strict law for sacrilege cases, stating the government had promised a committee to draft the law, but nothing has been done in seven months
Members of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Sidhupur) made the Ladhowal toll barrier in Punjab free for commuters on Friday, expressing anger against the state government’s delay in enacting a law for stringent punishment in sacrilege cases.
The protesters announced that toll barriers across the state would be made free, and toll companies wouldn’t be allowed to collect tax from commuters. Police from the Ladhowal police station were deployed to maintain law and order. Initially, police tried to convince the farmers not to make the barrier free, citing huge losses for the company, but the farmers didn’t comply.
The protest started at 12.10 pm, and the farmers removed the barrier, allowing vehicles to pass without paying toll tax. Karamjit Singh, a member of BKU (Sidhupur), said the protest was held under the banner of ‘Dharam Yudhh Morcha’, supporting Gurjeet Singh Khalsa’s agitation, who has been protesting atop a 400-ft water tank in Samana, Patiala, since October 13, 2024.
BKU demanded a strict law for sacrilege cases, stating the government had promised a committee to draft the law, but nothing has been done in seven months. “CM Bhagwant Singh Mann should speak about the committee’s report, or farmer organisations will intensify the agitation,” added Singh.
Gurinder Singh, a BKU Sidhupur member, said the AAP government had assured strict action in sacrilege cases, but nothing has happened. “The government should fulfil our demands, or we’ll intensify the agitation,” he added.
SHO Ladhowal police station, Inspector Amritpal Singh, said the protest started at noon and ended at 4 pm, after which the toll barrier became functional again.
