Bhindranwale poster row: HRTC suspends services on 10 Punjab routes indefinitely
HRTC suspended services on 10 routes to Punjab after vandalism of its buses. CM Sukhu seeks safety assurances from Punjab amid rising tensions.
The Himachal Pradesh Transport Corporation (HRTC) indefinitely suspended services on 10 routes to Punjab after two of its buses were vandalised in Hoshiarpur and Mohali over the past two days even as chief minister (CM) Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu spoke to his counterpart Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday.
“As a preventive measure, we have suspended services on 10 routes to Punjab. We will resume services only after the situation becomes normal. We are in touch with Punjab authorities. Punjab is our big brother and we will resolve the issue amicably,” deputy chief minister Mukesh Agnihotri said in a statement in the Himachal Pradesh assembly.
HRTC buses ply on 100 routes in Punjab. The suspension of services on 10 routes comes after HRTC buses were targeted by radical Sikh elements following a recent face-off over the display of flags with militant preacher Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale’s photo on motorcycles of tourists from Punjab in Manali. Dal Khalsa activists stopped HRTC buses coming from Himachal Pradesh and other vehicles with an HP registration number and pasted photos of Bhindranwale on them two days ago.
Addressing the Himachal Pradesh assembly, Sukhu said, “I have spoken to the Punjab CM and he has assured me safety of the buses. He has also said that strict action will be taken against the miscreants involved in these incidents (of vandalism).”
“DGP-level officers will discuss to take action on the issue,” Sukhu said, adding that police security will be provided to the buses if required.
Agnihotri, who holds the transport portfolio, said, “Drivers and conductors have been instructed to stay alert. Safety of passengers and staff is our priority.”
The deputy CM told the House that posters of Bhindranwale were pasted on an HRTC bus on the Jalandhar-Manali route two days ago, while another bus of the Una depot was targeted. When the driver and the conductor protested the pasting of Bhindranwale’s posters, they were roughed up. “After coming out of the bus stand, they removed the posters. On March 18, an HRTC bus plying on the Chandigarh-Hamirpur route was stopped and was vandalised. Another bus plying on the Chamba-Delhi route was targeted with stones in Sirhind and an FIR was registered in Sirhind.
Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur, while speaking in the House raised serious concern on the incidents. “Safety of residents of Himachal Pradesh is the responsibility of the government. The drivers and conductors and residents are feeling insecure to travel in buses. The government’s efforts should be visible,” the former chief minister said, recounting the incident when Khalistan flags were displayed at the gate of the assembly in Dharamshala. “We arrested those involved within two days in Punjab,” he said.
Charging two wheelers under SADA needs to be withdrawn: Agnihotri
Agnihotri while talking of the root cause of the dispute said, “The dispute arose when SADA started charging fee from two wheelers in Manikaran.”
It may be mentioned that on March 15, a biker from Punjab, displaying a Khalistani flag featuring a photo of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, faced reprimand from locals in Manali. The agitated residents removed the flag from the wooden mast attached to the motorcycle at the SADA barrier in Kasol, located in Manikaran Valley of Kullu. The district administration has installed a barrier to collect development fee from the outside vehicles entering tourist hotspots Kasol and Manikaran in the Parbati valley of the district. A nominal fee for maintenance of the region, became a point of contention as the visitors reportedly refused to pay. The situation escalated when they broke the barrier and proceeded to Manikaran and case was registered against the group.
The members of Special Area Development Authority (SADA), Manikaran, in 2021 had unanimously decided and passed a resolution that the development fee would be levied for providing basic facilities in the area. The then Kullu DC who is also the Manikaran SADA chairman had issued an order in this regard in exercise of powers under the TCP Act. The entry fee for a two-wheeler is ₹50, for a car ₹100, for SUV and MUV ₹300 while for all types of buses and trucks, it is ₹500.
“No where in the country charges are taken from two wheelers. This a policy decision and the CM needs to intervene and withdraw the same.”
