Khalsa March Reaches Gurdwara Amb Sahib Despite Desperate Efforts to Halt it Multiple Times

MOHALI, Punjab—Ardas was done at Sri Akal Takht Sahib at the scheduled time for the Khalsa March.  Sikh Sangat started arriving early there to take part in the march to Gurdwara Amb Sahib in Mohali to show support for Bhai Gurbaksh Singh.  The march was going to be entirely peaceful, but the number of police deployed throughout Sri Amritsar Sahib worried the Sikh Sangat.  The agenda of the Punjab Police soon came to light when they stopped the sangat members from leaving Sri Akal Takht Sahib.  Their desperate efforts kept Sikh Sangat strangled within the Darbar Sahib premises.

Sikh Sangat Adament; Dastar of Main Singh Removed

Sikh Sangat was adamant about going on with its planned march but the police seem to have received orders to do anything possible to halt or delay it.  During one of the incidents, a senior police officer from Amritsar Sahib misbehaved and pushed one of the Singhs in the Punj Pyare (5 beloved ones).  His dastar was removed forcibly which led to elevated tensions between the Sangat and police.  Sikh Sangat was also present in large numbers outside Sri Darbar Sahib.  An agitation was held at once close to the Jallianwala Bhag by a large number of Sikhs.

Bhai Balwant Singh Gopala and Bhai Harpreet Singh of Sikh Youth Federation Bhindrawale decided to go on a hunger strike as well to protest against the police’s behavior towards the Sikh Sangat.

Seeing the police not cooperating with the Sikh Sangat, the Dal Khalsa, one of the prime organizers of the march set off a number of Sikhs from Jallandar to march towards Gurdwara Amb Sahib.  They were to go through villages and gather support for Bhai Gurbaksh Singh.  This Jatha too was stopped later on in Beas.

In the meantime, the police finally gave up after seeing the Sikh Sangat unwavering in taking out the march.  Sikhs throughout the route were ready to join the marchers in large numbers.  Finally Giani Gurbachan Singh was asked to do ardas to set off the march from Akal Takht Sahib.  The scene of Sikhs leaving Akal Takht Sahib was totally astounding.  There were Kesri dastars and flags everywhere throughout the city.

A Number of Sikh Leaders Arrested

A number of Sikhs were arrested by the police from different places.  Namely, Bhai Kanwarpal Singh of Dal Khalsa, who also provides updates to Sikh24 from time to time, was picked up yesterday night.  Baba Baljit Singh Daduwal too was picked up shortly after he left Sri Akal Takht Sahib.  Both were later released when the march had already covered significant distance.

Following statement was shared by Bhai Kanwarpal Singh shortly after his release –

Misusing its power, Punjab government has committed a gross mistake by creating obstacles to foil the March. Unfortunately, the government has tried to curb the socio-religio rights of the Sikhs. I was taken into custody by Amritsar police previous night at 10 PM under section 7/51 and released today at 2 PM after the March left the Amritsar city. The March is moving forward towards its destination i.e. Gurdwara Amb Sahib, Mohali.

Sikh Sangat Arrive at Gurdwara Amb Sahib in Large Numbers

Gurdwara Amb Sahib turned into a massive gathering of the Khalsa Panth.  Sikhs from all over Punjab reached there to show their support for Bhai Gurbaksh Singh and demand the release of Singhs from jails.  Bhai Gurbaksh Singh addressed the Sangat in much chardi kala (high spirits) despite having not eaten anything for over 20 days.  Bhai Gurbaksh Singh later requested the Singhs of Sikh Youth Federation Bhindrawale to stop their hunger strike.  He himself fed them with love and appreciated their efforts.

The marchers covered over 200 kilometers while going through major cities likes Kartarpur Sahib, Phagwara, Ludhiana, Samrala, and Morinda and finally arriving at Gurdwara Amb Sahib in Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar, Mohali.