Won’t lift Samana blockade till Budget session ends: Dharma Yudh Morcha
Move aimed at pressing govt to enact anti-sacrilege law, siege enters Day 4
Members of the Dharma Yudh Morcha have announced that the ongoing siege on the main intersection of the Samana-Patran highway will continue till March 16, the last day of the state Budget session, to press the government to enact a stringent law against sacrilege. The members protested on the highway for the fourth consecutive day today.
At the centre of the agitation is activist Gurjeet Singh Khalsa, who has been staging a protest atop a nearly 400-foot mobile tower in Samana since October 12, 2024. His sit-in has now crossed 500 days. From atop the tower, Khalsa is demanding implementation of the Punjab Prevention of Offences Against Holy Scripture(s) Bill, 2025, calling for a stringent law against sacrilege.
The blockade has left commuters travelling towards Haryana and Rajasthan harried. It has severely affected the town, known for its trade and small-scale industry. With traffic diverted through inner roads, residents said the city was witnessing frequent jams. “Business is suffering as customers are avoiding the market due to congestion,” said a shopkeeper, requesting anonymity.
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Morcha coordinator Gurpreet Singh said the agitation would continue peacefully. “We have appealed to supporters that if they wish to contribute, they may render seva directly. No cash donations will be accepted,” he said, adding that the decision was taken to avoid allegations of financial impropriety.
The sacrilege issue remains politically sensitive since the 2015 Bargari incidents. This stir has once again raised the demand for a stringent anti-sacrilege law, with a few sections hinting that the law will be misused to target minorities.
Toll plazas made free
On February 24, the police took nearly 200 protesters, including farmer leaders, into preventive custody so as to stop them from setting up a permanent morcha in Samana.
Terming it as administrative suppression, the BKU announced a “toll-free” protest on Friday. Farmers allowed vehicles to pass through major toll plazas.
