Parties, organisations protest against CAA

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, January 25

On a bandh call given by the SAD (Amritsar), the Bahujan Kranti Morcha, the Bahujan Mukti Party, a protest march was held against the CAA and the NRC from BMC Chowk to the DC office here. The protest was held in response to a statewide call by the SAD (Amritsar), along with Dalit and Muslim organisations. In Jalandhar, the bandh got a lukewarm response as all shops and main institutions remained open in the city.

Sukhdev Singh Daroli, district president, SAD (Amritsar), said: “The governments have turned the CAA/NRC into a Hindu vs Sikh or Hindu vs Muslim issue. But in Assam, a large number of Hindus failed to make it into the NRC. While demonetisation and the GST have already adversely affected the economy of the country, the NRC will further create divides on religious lines.”

A march was also held by activists of the Desh Bhaagt Yadgar Hall (DBYH) following an event dedicated to the 150th birth anniversary of Ghadarite Baba Sohan Singh Bhakna. The event was followed by a session featuring the presentation of a report on detention camps in Assam and villages and cities in Uttar Pradesh by activist Dr Navsharan. The march started from the DBYH saw the participation of members of the Desh Bhagat Yadgar Committee; Punjab Lok Sabhiacharak (PLS) Manch; Manav-vadi Rachna Manch Punjab; People’s Voice; Sahitak Sabhyachar Sanstha ‘Phulkari’; Apni Mitti, Apne Lok; Punjab Sufi Manch, Dr Ambedkar Mission Society; Dr. Ambedkar Bhawan Trust, Jalandhar; Punjabi Lekhak Sabha Jalandhar; Jamhoori Adhikar Sabha Punjab (Jalandhar unit); Tarksheel Society, Punjab (Jalandhar zone); and Shaheed Bahagat Singh Vichar Manch, RCF, Kapurthala, among others.

Organised by the PLS Manch, the event was held in keeping with a tradition being observed for over 10 years to mark the eve of Republic Day every year.

Convener of the PLS Manch Amolak Singh, Prof Jagmohan Singh, Dr Parminder Singh, Naunihal Singh and others passed a resolution seeking the dismissal of the CAA/NRC and NPR. Activists said: “Their march had nothing to do with the bandh call given by SAD (A) as we reject all sorts of fundamentalism and condemn the CAA/NRC but don’t endorse the ideology of the SAD (A).”

Bandh call leads to tension in Hoshiarpur

Hoshiarpur: The situation in the city remained tense during the Punjab bandh call given by various Sikh, Dalit and Christian organisations against the NRC and CAA. Throughout the day, groups, who were supporting the bandh and those who were opposing it, took rounds of the city, due to which shopkeepers kept closing and opening their shops. Later, BJP activists arrived outside Government Senior Secondary School at Ghanta Ghar Chowk to stop the march. — OC