Punjab witnessed major disruptions on Friday (21st August) as the Qaumi Insaaf Morcha called for a seven-hour Punjab Bandh from 7 am to 2 pm, demanding the release of ‘Sikh prisoners’.
The shutdown has received support from several religious, social, farmers’ and employees’ organisations, along with Sikh political parties.
Jalandhar: Qaumi Insaaf Morcha stages sit-in protest as part of 'Punjab Bandh' demanding release of imprisoned Sikhs. pic.twitter.com/GgBVsQ6tYo
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The morcha has announced plans to block highways and railway tracks and close shops and other commercial establishments during the bandh. However, it has said that essential services and people facing emergencies will not be stopped.
Emergency services to remain open
Hospitals and chemist shops will remain open during the bandh. Ambulances, funeral vans and vehicles being used for wedding ceremonies will also be allowed to move freely.
People travelling to airports, appearing for examinations or attending weddings will also be exempted. Morcha convener Pal Singh France said the group does not want to trouble the public or disturb normal life unnecessarily.
He said the bandh was aimed at seeking justice for Sikh prisoners who have spent decades in different jails and, according to the morcha, have also been denied parole in some cases.
Schools advise closure, universities yet to announce holiday
Punjab education secretary Sonali Giri said the government had not issued any order to close educational institutions. However, the Association of Private Unaided Schools and the Federation of Private Schools and Association of Punjab have advised their member schools to remain closed on Friday to ensure the safety of students and teachers.
At the same time, colleges and universities run by the Punjab government and the Centre had not announced any holiday.
Panjab University, however, has postponed all examinations scheduled for Friday to avoid inconvenience to students. The postponed exams will now be held on 10th September.
Support from SGPC and Sikh political groups
The bandh has received backing from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, farmer groups such as the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, employees’ unions and Sikh political parties, including SAD (Punar Surjit), SAD (Amritsar) and Akali Dal Waris Punjab De.
In support of the bandh, the SGPC has also postponed its executive committee meeting, which was scheduled to be held at its headquarters in Amritsar. The meeting will now take place on 22nd August.
SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami said all SGPC offices and institutions would remain closed on 21st August. He said the SGPC had consistently worked for the release of Sikh prisoners and would continue to support every peaceful movement connected with the issue.
Protest has continued since January 2023
The Qaumi Insaaf Morcha has been holding an indefinite sit-in at the Mohali-Chandigarh border since 7th January, 2023. The group is demanding the premature release or commutation of sentences of several Sikh prisoners.
These include Jagtar Singh Hawara, whose death sentence in the 2007 case was changed to life imprisonment in 2010; Balwant Singh Rajoana, who was sentenced to death in 2007; Paramjit Singh Bheora, sentenced to life imprisonment in 2010; and Jagtar Singh Tara, sentenced to life imprisonment in 2018. All four were convicted in connection with the 1995 assassination of former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh.
The list also includes Gurdeep Singh Khera, sentenced to life imprisonment in 1991, and Davinderpal Singh Bhullar, whose death sentence in the 2001 case was changed to life imprisonment in 2014.
The bandh call was announced on 15th August after Chandigarh Police used tear gas shells and water cannons to disperse protesters who tried to cross barricades while marching towards the Punjab governor’s residence.
Recently, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann met Governor Gulab Chand Kataria and supported a 10-day parole for Jagtar Singh Hawara so that he could meet his ailing mother.
