Pastor Bajinder’s aides put off protest to March 26

The “Punjab Bandh” call for March 12, announced by supporters of Tajpur-based pastor Bajinder Singh in the wake of a sexual harassment case registered against him, has been postponed to March 26. The decision was announced by representatives of various Christian organisations, along with Valmiki and Mazhabi Sikh religious groups, during a press conference in Jalandhar on Monday.

The bandh was initially called in solidarity with Bajinder Singh, who faces allegations of sexual harassment in Kapurthala. However, the organisers decided to defer the protest to avoid disruption in the upcoming Hola Mohalla and Holi celebrations in the state.

Christian groups alleged that minorities, including Christians, Valmikis and Mazhabi Sikhs, as well as churches in Punjab were being repeatedly targeted. They termed the case against Bajinder Singh as “false” and demanded a fair probe by the SIT formed by the Kapurthala police.