Won''t end protest, but will change its course, Dhian Singh Mand says at Bargari

Tribune News Service
Faridkot, December 9

Sikh leaders have refused to call off their six-month long protest at Bargari until the Punjab government gave in to their demands.   

"We are not ending morcha but we're changing its outline," Dhian Singh Mand said in his address at 'Insaaf Morcha' on Sunday.  

Congress cabinet ministers Sukhjinder Randhawa and Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa also addressed the protest, but protesters remained unmoved—with several in the audience even choosing to walk out of the venue.   

Protesters' demands include arrest of culprits in sacrilege cases, action against guilty police officials who opened firing on peaceful protesters at Behbal Kalan and release or shifting of Sikh prisoners.

Video credit: Pawan Sharma

Highlights

12:48 pm: People at Bargari Morcha are waiting for a decision. While many panthic leaders have already reached the protest site, Congress leaders yet to arrive.

12:52 pm: Speakers say dharna won’t be lifted until government makes up its mind and until panthic leaders agree.

1:02 pm: Speakers joke about Badals' atonement at the Golden Temple for “mistakes that they had committed during their rule”.

1:19 pm: Speakers accuse the press of disrespecting Guru Granth Sahib when they entered the protest site wearing shoes.

1:24 pm: Cabinet ministers Sukhjinder Randhawa and Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa reach protest site.

1:25 pm: Faridkot Congress MLA Kushaldeep Dhillon also reaches venue.

1:58 pm: Patti MLA Harminder Singh, Randhawa speak. Randhawa speaks about state government's stand.

2:00 pm: Badals should seek forgiveness at Bargari for their mistake: Randhawa

2:01 pm: Badals also say Panth is in danger, but it is his family that is in danger. In contrast to Guru Gobind Singh, who sacrificed his sons for panth, Badal sacrificed panth for his family: Randhawa.

2:10 pm: State government has engaged four senior lawyers to ensure prosecution of all accused in sacrilege: Randhawa 

2:11 pm: He accused CBI for soft pedalling sacrilege cases.

2:13 pm: We’ll ensure 23 Dera Sacha Sauda followers arrested for sacrilege don’t get bail… We shifted enquiry from CBI to SIT for this reason: Randhawa

2:19 pm: We’ve a constituted three-member lawyer committee to raise the issue of Sikh prisoners: Randhawa

2:19 pm: One prisoner has been released from Nabha, other being released from Amritsar soon. Raised the issue to ensure release of prisoners in Jaipur: Randhawa

2:20 pm: We are bringing a new Bill in Vidhan Sabha for releasing of prisoners: Randhawa

2:26 pm: SIT will not spare even Badals, I give this assurance in presence of Holy Guru Granth Sahib: Randhawa

2:30 pm: People begin protesting as Randhawa finishes speaking. Daduwal tries to pacify crowd, says no decision yet.

2:29 pm: Listen Tript Bajwa, Daduwal appeals to crowd. “Only Mand will take final decision.”

2:29 pm: People begin to leave venue as Bajwa begins to speak

2:30 pm: Organisers trying to pacify the crowd.

2:35 pm: Bajwa says decision to call off dharna to be taken by Mand. “We came here only to inform you of the action taken by the state government,” he says.

2:35 pm: Asks state government to rechristen Bargari as Bargari Sahib, give compensation to the injured in Behbal Kalan and Kotkapura firing incidents

2:35 pm: Bajwa ends speech.

2:41 pm: SIT DIG RS Khatra was accused of not taking action against sacrilege suspects under Badal's regime, but it has arrested suspects in Bargar and Malke incidents under Capt’s rule, says Daduwal.

2:42 pm: State government will soon get vacated stay on arrest of four policemen accused in the firing incidents, said Daduwal.

2:45 pm: People want Badals arrest, said Daduwal.

2:48 pm: Not satisfied with Daduwal's words of assurance, people begin to leave rally ground.  

3:11 pm: Randhawa makes announcement to cancel all 295-A cases against Sikhs registered on the complaint of Sacha sauda Dera followers.

3:12 pm: He promises to ensure Badals are put behind bars.

3:15 pm: Public reaction to their speeches has led to Congress and panthic leaders discussing whether to call off protest. Congress leaders leave venue, but panthic leaders continue discussions. 

3:15 pm: Public reaction to their speeches has led to Congress and panthic leaders discussing whether to call off protest. Congress leaders leave venue, but panthic leaders continue discussions.

3:14 pm: To give panthic leaders time to come to a decision, they taking turns to address the crowd.

3:21 pm: Baba Fauza Singh asked Dhian Singh Mand to keep public sentiments in mind while decision whether to call off dharna. 

3:24 pm: Simranjit Singh Mann says arresting of all accused in sacrilege incidents is their foremost demand. Another one is to bring guilty policemen to book.  

4:15 pm: After two hours of deliberation, Dhian Singh Mand begins his address. 

4:25 pm: Mand refuted allegations that panthic leaders misappropriated funds meant for the protest. He said organisers had spent Rs 1.26 crore of Rs 1.48 crore were received as donation in last 192 days.

4:26 pm: No 'tactical dealing'  with the state government: Mand 

4:30 pm: We are not ending morcha but changing its outline: Mand

4:33 pm: From today, the morcha will take new turn. Announcement regarding this will be made in the days to come, he said.

4:35 pm: Will ensure release of Jagtar Hawara: Mand