Sikh radicals smudge Hindi, English on Bathinda-Faridkot signboards
For the past month or so, activists of these organisations had launched a campaign demanding names of places on signboards to be written with Punjabi on top as names in Punjabi are written at bottom on signboards along this road.
Seeking that Punjabi be the language on top of signboards, activists of Dal Khalsa, SAD (Amritsar), BKU (Krantikari) and Malwa Youth Federation and other organisations on Saturday smudged signboards written in Hindi and English leaving names of places only in Punjabi along the Bathinda – Faridkot road on Saturday. The protesters smudged signboards on about 25km stretch of national highway-15.
For the past month or so, activists of these organisations had launched a campaign demanding names of places on signboards to be written with Punjabi on top as names in Punjabi are written at bottom on signboards along this road. The protesters had resorted to similar action earlier also. A delegation had also met Bathinda deputy commissioner Diprava Lakra earlier this month. Activists claimed that as nothing happened, they decided to again smudge the boards.
Police tried to stop the protesters who also blocked the road as a mark of protest. They stopped only after assurance from administration.
Dal Khalsa senior vice-president Hardeep Singh said, “We respect all languages. However, in Punjab Punjabi must be given priority. If authorities do not act on our demand, we will launch a statewide agitation.”
Meanwhile, a case for prevention of damage to public and private act has been registered against leader of Malwa Youth Federation Lakhbir Singh Lakha Sidhana, Hardeep Singh and some unidentified people in this connection at Nehianwala police station.