Punjab to remain shut on the eve of Indian Republic day to oppose and reject Sangh’s Hindu Rashtra agenda

CHANDIGARH, Punjab—In a determined move to contest BJP’s march towards Hindu Rashtra and to counter Modi Government’s anti-people legislations – CAA and  NRC and to protest against constitutional injustices and inequality, the Dal Khalsa and Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) have called for complete shutdown in Punjab on the occasion of India’s 70th Republic day.

“Punjab will remain shut on Jan 25 ( Jan 26 being a Sunday) to register its protest against Sangh’s agenda of Hindu rashtra and to reiterate that Punjab won’t be part of the theocratic Hindu state”, declared Simranjit Singh Mann and Harpal Singh Cheema heads of SAD (Amritsar) and Dal Khalsa respectively, at a joint press conference on January 10.

They declared that the shutdown would be verdict on fascists and divisive policies and decisions of Modi Govt-2.

“We have no illusion about BJP’s sinister designs to convert India into a Hindu country,” said Mann while adding that the design started tumbling out of BJP’s cupboard with the abrogation of article 370, paying the way for construction of Ram Mandir through a court verdict and finally amendment to the Citizenship Act and the proposed NRC.

Mann slammed Indian government’s double standards. On one hand, Modi claims that Kashmir was integral part of India. On other hand, the government has facilitated the visit of envoys of 18 countries in the valley. He dubbed the visit “managed” and “sarkari” and praised envoys of EU for refusing to toe Indian line.

H S Cheema listed Modi governments’ injustices and denial of rights to justify their call for bandh, which includes demolition of Bhagat Ravidas Mandir, demolition of Guru Nanak Matt at Puri, betraying Sikhs by not releasing prisoners that have completed their prison terms, failure to bring the killers of Behbal Kalan firing to book and brutality unleashed on Jamia, AMU by state police and JNU students by state sponsored goons affiliated with BJP’s students’ wing ABVP.

Harcharanjit Singh Dhami said Modi and Shah should make no mistake. If they were stubborn in implementing their wrong and autocratic decisions despite countrywide protests, we were more determined and committed to oppose it tooth and nail. He said in the last 70 years more than hundred and thirty times the Constitution has been amended to suit the political expediency of powers that be but not once to fulfill the aspirations and rights of people of Punjab.

Dal Khalsa spokesperson Kanwar Pal Singh made a fervent appeal to Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Dalits and Sikhs of Punjab to make the call for bandh successful by closing their educational and commercial establishments, banks, petrol pumps on January 25.

He, however, clarified that medical facilities including hospitals and chemist shops won’t be affected by the strike call.

SYP Head Paramjit Singh Mand added that the strike would be peaceful and there would be no rail disruption.