India
oi-Swastika Sruti
Punjab will witness a statewide bandh (shutdown) on Friday (August 21) on the demand for the release of Sikh detainees, some of whom have been jailed for many years now.
Punjab will observe a statewide bandh on August 21, called by the Qaumi Insaf Morcha for the release of Sikh detainees; schools will officially remain open, though many private institutions are closing, and Panjab University has postponed exams.
While the bandh will definitely disrupt transport and movement in many parts of the state, the issue of closure of schools and colleges also remains uncertain.
The Punjab government has clarified that no directive has been issued to shut down educational institutions. Nonetheless, there have been a number of decisions taken by private school organizations for safety reasons.
Punjab Government Says Schools And Colleges Will Remain Open
Punjab Education Secretary Sonali Giri mentioned that no order has been issued by the state government for closing down the schools and colleges on August 21.
This implies that the official functioning of the government-run educational institutions can continue unless a specific institute takes a decision according to its own situation.
But there is a different story with regard to private schools.
The CBSE coordinator from Ludhiana stated that majority of CBSE schools in the district will remain closed on Friday. The individual schools have been given the choice to operate or not.
Federation of Private Schools and Association of Punjab (FAP), an association representing more than 7,500 private schools, has also declared a holiday for their member schools on August 21.
According to Jagjit Singh Dhuri, the President of FAP, the decision was taken considering the safety of the students.
Why Has Punjab Bandh Been Called?
The Qaumi Insaf Morcha has called for the Punjab Bandh to demand the release of Sikh prisoners, commonly referred to as Bandi Singhs.
The bandh is scheduled to be observed from 7 am to 2 pm on Friday.
Morcha leaders have appealed to people across communities and sections of society to support the shutdown. One of the key demands is parole for Jagtar Singh Hawara, who is serving a life sentence for his role in the assassination of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh in 1995.
The Morcha has also sought the release of other prisoners, including Balwant Singh Rajoana and Devinderpal Singh Bhullar.
Panjab University Postpones Exams
The bandh has also affected the examination schedule.
Panjab University has postponed Friday’s examinations for students who had earlier been unable to appear for them. The exams will now be conducted on September 10.
The decision has been taken to avoid inconvenience to students amid the bandh call and the possibility of disruptions in transport and movement.
What Happened During The August 15 Protest?
The new bandh is announced just a few days after an agitation is organized on the occasion of India’s Independence Day.
In 15th August, people belonging to the Qaumi Insaf Morcha tried to move towards the residence of the Governor of Punjab as they demanded parole of Hawara and other Bandi Singhs.
Tear gas was released and water cannons were also used by the Chandigarh Police as some protesters attempted to breach the barricades during the agitation.
The Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has already met with the Governor and assured him of giving 10 days parole to Hawara in order to meet his ill mother.
Morcha Has Been Protesting Since 2023
The Qaumi Insaf Morcha has been holding a prolonged protest near Sector 52-53 in Chandigarh and YPS Chowk in Mohali since January 7, 2023.
The group has been demanding the release of Sikh prisoners who, according to the protesters, have completed their sentences but remain incarcerated.
The issue has also received political support.
The Shiromani Akali Dal (Punar Surjit General) has backed the August 21 bandh and accused the government of using force and legal action against those demanding the release of the prisoners.
The party has appealed to people across Punjab to participate in the bandh and put pressure on the authorities over the issue.
