A statewide bandh has been called for August 21 in Punjab over demands concerning the release of Sikh prisoners, commonly referred to as Bandi Singhs, and parole for Sikh prisoner Jagtar Singh Hawara.
The call has been given by the Qaumi Insaaf Morcha and allied organisations and the bandh is reportedly scheduled from 7 am to 2 pm.
In Faridkot, leaders associated with different Sikh organisations reportedly held a press conference at the Faridkot Rest House and appealed to people from different communities, social organisations and shopkeepers to support the bandh.
According to the leaders, the main demands behind the protest include the release of Sikh prisoners and granting at least 10 days of parole to Jagtar Singh Hawara, so that he can meet his elderly mother, currently Hawara is serving a life sentence in the case related to the 1995 assassination of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh.
Sikh leaders Bhai Ranjit Singh Vander and Baba Manpreet Singh Khalsa reportedly appealed to people from different communities and organisations to cooperate with the bandh and they also appealed to shopkeepers in Faridkot to keep their establishments closed in support of the demands.
The leaders reportedly said that a group of Sikhs would take out a march in Faridkot at around 8 am on August 21. They said the group would approach shopkeepers and request them to close their shops during the bandh and according to the leaders' statements, markets and shops are expected to remain closed during the protest period. They also reportedly said that, apart from emergency services, normal movement and traffic would be affected.
However, the extent to which the bandh will actually affect markets, roads and transport across Punjab will depend on participation and local arrangements. The bandh is a call by protest organisations and is not, on the information available, a confirmed statewide government-declared holiday or shutdown.
The Qaumi Insaaf Morcha has been campaigning for the release of Sikh prisoners who, according to the organisation, have remained in jail for long periods despite completing their sentences or becoming eligible for release under applicable rules.
The morcha's August 21 bandh call followed a protest on August 15 near the Chandigarh-Mohali border and protesters associated with the morcha had attempted to march towards the Punjab Governor's residence in Chandigarh while raising demands concerning Sikh prisoners. Police reportedly used tear gas and water cannons after protesters attempted to cross barricades.
The morcha subsequently announced the Punjab bandh and its leaders have appealed to people and different organisations across the state to support the shutdown.
The demand concerning Jagtar Singh Hawara is also part of the wider protest and protest leaders have sought parole for Hawara so that he can meet his mother. The demand has been raised alongside calls concerning other Sikh prisoners, including Balwant Singh Rajoana and Devinderpal Singh Bhullar.
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has reportedly extended its support to the August 21 bandh.
SGPC president Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami announced support for the bandh over the demand concerning the release of Bandi Singhs and the SGPC has also reportedly decided to keep its offices and institutions closed on August 21.
The SGPC's Interim Committee meeting, which was scheduled for August 21, has reportedly been postponed by a day, it is now scheduled for August 22 at 11 am at the SGPC headquarters in Amritsar.
Amid uncertainty among parents and students, the Private School Association Punjab has reportedly issued an advisory stating that schools affiliated with the association will remain open on August 21 and according to the information provided by the association, private schools have been asked to function normally and not observe a holiday solely because of the bandh call. Association president Jagjit Singh Dhuri has reportedly reiterated that schools affiliated with the association will remain open.
Parents and students should therefore check messages or notices issued directly by their individual schools before making travel arrangements as schools may issue its own instructions depending on local conditions.
The bandh organisers have reportedly appealed for markets and public transport to remain closed during the seven-hour protest period and they have also called for traffic movement to be stopped in support of the bandh.
The organisers have reportedly appealed to the government to suspend train services as well and have warned that railway movement could face protests if trains continue operating and these demands and warnings issued by the organisers, not confirmed announcements that railway services will be suspended.
At the same time, the organisers have reportedly said that people travelling for essential reasons should be allowed to move. This includes people travelling for medical emergencies, airport journeys, examinations and weddings, hospitals and medical stores are also reportedly expected to remain operational, with emergency services kept outside the scope of the shutdown.
For residents, the practical impact of the bandh may differ from one area to another as the call has received support from several Sikh organisations, including the SGPC, but participation by individual markets, transport operators, schools, businesses and other institutions cannot be assumed unless they issue their own notices.
As of now, the August 21 Punjab bandh remains a protest call by the Qaumi Insaaf Morcha and supporting organisations. Its actual impact on markets, traffic, public transport and daily life will depend on how widely the call is followed across different districts.
