Blockade of Harike Bridge to be lifted only after reinstatement of Panj Piyares

Tarn Taran, Punjab:  Putting all their previous demands on hold, protesters blocking the Harike bridge, on Friday, said the blockade would now be lifted only after the reinstatement of the “Panj Pyaras” of Akal Takht.

Sikh Youth Federation (Bhindranwala) chief Gurjinder Singh, who is leading the dharna that entered the ninth day today, said, “Now our main demand is the reinstatement of ‘Panj Pyaras’, as the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) had deeply hurt the Sikh sentiments by violating rules set by Guru Gobind Singh.”

“After their reinstatement, the ‘Panj Payaras’ will decide the fate of dharna and all the Sikh protesters will follow their decision in view of their supremacy in the Panth. In case the SGPC reinstates them, dharna will be lifted after they perform ardas here,” he added.

On Friday, around 500 protesters continued the agitation despite the number of appeals made by the district officials and the social activists to end it in public interest. Meanwhile, the dharna on the Amritsar-Sri Ganganagar national highway, near bus stand, too, continued for the eighth consecutive day.

Congress seeing vote opportunity is now extending support to the agitation, Congress general secretary Harminder Singh Gill said Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal and his son deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal were responsible for the turmoil that has gripped the state.

“Badals have been misusing Akal Takht and other Sikh institutions for their political gain. They deprived Sikhs from justice and did not hesitate to violate Sikh principles and traditions. Decision of pardon to Dera Sacha Sauda head can be seen in this light, which has created deep insecurity among Sikhs, “he said.