Clash mars Sikh activists’ protest at Badal village

Tribune News Service

Faridkot/Muktsar, May 8

Various Panthic organisations, led by parallel jathedars Dhian Singh Mand and Baljit Singh Daduwal today started a protest march from Bargari in Faridkot to Badal village in Muktsar.

Daduwal said, “We will make people aware as to how the Badal family misused religion for their narrow political interests. We will give a call to the people not to vote for any SAD candidate, particularly in Bathinda and Ferozepur.”

As the march reached Badal village, unruly scenes were witnessed as supporters of Daduwal and Sukhjit Singh Khosa, chief, Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Committee.

The activists clashed and took out kirpans that too outside former CM Parkash Singh Badal’s residence in the village. Badal was present at his house at that time.

The clash erupted over the issue of addressing the dharna. While Daduwal said all Panthic leaders would address the gathering, but Khosa said only a few should speak due to shortage of time.

The situation was controlled after the intervention of some other Sikh activists.

A large number of cops were present at the spot, but they did not intervene.

The protesters raised slogans against Badals, accusing them of perpetrating sacrilege incidents in 2015. After lodging the protest for almost an hour, the protesters dispersed after announcing that they would lodge a protest in Ferozepur on May 14.

Manjit Singh Dhesi, SSP, Muktsar, said, “We have registered a case against some by name and some unidentified under Section 307 (attempt to murder) IPC, besides other sections for clashing with cops. However, nobody has lodged a complaint regarding the scuffle between the protesters themselves.”