Sikh activists protest vehicle discrimination in Hoshiarpur

Activists from various Sikh organizations protested in Hoshiarpur on Wednesday. They aimed to stop vehicles from Himachal Pradesh at the state border. This protest was in response to the removal of flags that featured Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale’s images from pilgrims' vehicles in Manali. The protesters had a tense encounter with police near Adamwal when they were told to disperse. They started their march from Gurdwara Singh Sabha on railway road, heading towards Chintpurni road. Their procession was halted at Adamwal, where they held a demonstration against the Himachal Pradesh government. Groups involved in the protest included SAD (Amritsar), Awaz-e-Quom, Sikh Naujwan Front, Guru Ravidas Force, Young Khalsa Group, and Nihal Singh Dal (Panj Aab). They claimed that Sikhs were increasingly being targeted in Himachal and that their symbols were being disrespected. They accused the Congress and BJP leadership in Himachal of damaging the Sikh community's image. Protesters stated, "Displaying flags of leaders is not a crime," and warned that tensions could escalate if such actions continue. They briefly dispersed after presenting a memorandum to officials. In a related matter, the Dal Khalsa organization distanced itself from an incident involving the vandalism of a Himachal Road Transport Corporation bus in Kharar, Mohali. Earlier, Dal Khalsa activists had put up posters of Bhindranwale on vehicles with Himachal number plates as a retaliation for the removal of images in Himachal.