As Punjab braces for a bandh on Friday, August 21, over calls for for the discharge of Sikh prisoners, the state authorities has clarified that colleges and faculties will stay open.
Schooling Secretary Sonali Giri stated no directions have been issued for the closure of academic establishments.
Nonetheless, the Ludhiana CBSE coordinator stated most CBSE colleges within the district are more likely to stay closed on Friday. The coordinator added that particular person colleges can take a choice on whether or not to stay open.
Additionally Learn | Punjab: SAD (Punar Surjit) backs bandh call for Sikh prisoners
What is occurring in Punjab?
The Qaumi Insaf Morcha on Wednesday known as for a ‘Punjab Bandh’ on August 21 to press for the discharge of Sikh prisoners.
Morcha leaders have additionally appealed to individuals from all sections of society to help the bandh, in keeping with a PTI report.
Qaumi Insaf Morcha chief Surjit Singh Phul stated the bandh shall be noticed throughout the state from 7 am to 2 pm on Friday.
The Morcha has been demanding parole for Jagtar Singh Hawara, who’s serving a life sentence for the assassination of then Punjab chief minister Beant Singh in 1995.
Additionally Learn | Punjab employees step up ‘Maha Bandh’ protest plans on August 27 as DA dues deadline ends
Punjab college postpones exams
To keep away from inconvenience to college students, Panjab College has postponed Friday’s exams for college kids who had been unable to look for them earlier. The exams will now be held on September 10.
In the meantime, the Federation of Personal Faculties and Affiliation of Punjab (FAP), which represents greater than 7,500 personal colleges within the state, has introduced a vacation in all member colleges on August 21.
FAP president Jagjit Singh Dhuri stated the choice was taken holding the protection of scholars because the precedence.
Tear fuel and water cannons used on I-Day
On August 15, the group had known as for a march in the direction of the Punjab governor’s residence to demand Hawara’s parole and the discharge of ‘Bandi Singhs’ — a time period used for Sikh prisoners convicted for his or her involvement in militancy through the Punjab insurgency of the Nineteen Nineties.
The Chandigarh Police, nonetheless, used tear fuel shells and water cannons to disperse protesters who tried to breach barricades through the march.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has already met the governor and backed a 10-day parole for Hawara in order that he can meet his ailing mom.
Moreover Hawara, the Morcha has been demanding the discharge of Balwant Singh Rajoana and Devinderpal Singh Bhullar.
Rajoana is a convict within the 1995 assassination of Beant Singh, whereas Bhullar is serving a sentence in reference to the 1993 Delhi bomb blast case.
The Qaumi Insaaf Morcha has been holding a protracted protest close to Sector 52-53 in Chandigarh and YPS Chowk in Mohali since January 7, 2023, as a part of its marketing campaign looking for the discharge of Sikh prisoners.
The Shiromani Akali Dal (Punar Surjit Common) has additionally supported the Punjab Bandh name.
In a press release, the SAD (Punar Surjit) stated the federal government just isn’t solely refusing to launch the ‘Bandi Singhs’ however can also be making an attempt to suppress the voices of these demanding their launch by drive and the registration of circumstances.
Subsequently, it appealed to justice-loving individuals throughout Punjab to cooperate in observing a whole bandh on August 21 with a purpose to strongly oppose what they described as “authorities high-handedness”.
It stated social gathering leaders and staff would be a part of fingers with individuals to make the bandh profitable and construct stress on governments to safe the discharge of the Bandi Singhs who, regardless of having accomplished their sentences, have remained imprisoned for many years.
