CHANDIGARH, Punjab—The state government of Punjab has dedicated 2021’s official calendar to the 400^th Parkash Purab celebrations of ninth Sikh master Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Ji. Notably, the 400^th Parkash Purab of Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Ji will be celebrated in April this year.

Two weeks ago, this calendar was officially released by the Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh in Chandigarh.

It is important to note the life of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji has been a key theme of the ongoing farmers’ protests. The morcha organizers, led by the Kisan Jathebandis, have been using the story of Guru Sahib’s martyrdom to promote unity and harmony amongst various religions and sects that have all come together against the anti-farm bills passed by the India Government.

The Hindu community exists today due to the sacrifices made by Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Ji, and his three Sikhs Bhai Mati Das Ji, Bhai Sati Das Ji and Bhai Dyala Ji.

Guru Sahib had challenged the then Mughal ruler Aurangzeb’s act of forcing Hindus to embrace Islam by standing as an iconic figure against forceful conversions and oppression of other religions’ disciples.

In April 2021, the 400^th Parkash Purab of Guru Teg Bahadur Ji will be celebrated all over India with the main religious events at Baba Bakala i.e. where Guru Teg Bahadur Ji meditated for about 26 years, 9 months, and 13 days before being searched by Baba Makhan Shah Lubana.

As per the information provided by a government official, the year 2021 will have 26 scheduled holidays and 31 restricted holidays out of which employees will be free to choose any two.

In October-2020, the Indian government had constituted a high-level committee to mark this auspicious eve in which Lok Sabha’s speaker Om Birla, former Indian PM Dr. Manmohan Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, and Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari were nominated as members.

1. Gurlabh Singh, a 22-year-old farmer from village Dayalpura in Bathinda district, has passed away.
2. Yesterday, the Indian government had agreed to withdraw ordinances on the rise in electricity power tariffs and penalties for stubble burning. These ordinances have nothing to do with the original three bills regarding the private market, contract farming, and essential commodities. The deadlock over the main contentious issues of the repeal of three farm laws and a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) still continues.
3. BJP and Godi media continue propaganda by saying the farmers won 50% of the battle, but none of the 3 bills have been canceled. So the BJP is twisting yesterday’s meeting outcome and farmers should be careful.
4. BJP suffers heavy losses in Haryana municipal elections. They were expected to win most of Haryana but ended up losing a lot of it. Farmer protest seemed to have caused the swing in voting. It’s a huge problem for CM Kattar who dug up roads and had police attack the protestors weeks ago.
5. Haryana police try to stop more farmers to join morcha. Heavy-handed tactics by police, but farmers used tractors to break through barricades today.
6. Rajasthan farmers have removed barricades at the Rewari border and started proceeding towards Delhi.
7. Kerala Vidan Sabha unanimously pass a motion against BJP Modi agriculture laws.
8. BJP leaders complain the Police not doing enough in Punjab to protect them. They blame Capt Amrinder.
9. Nearly 50,000 farmers attend the Kisan protest in Tamil Nadu today.
10. Punjab Governor VP Singh Badnore has summoned the Chief Secretary as well as DGP Punjab in the wake of disconnection of power supply to Reliance Jio’s mobile towers in Punjab. It is clear that the pressure on the Punjab Governor to control the targeting of Reliance Jio towers is coming from the Centre.
11. Modi shows he is more concerned about Jio Towers rather than elderly farmers sleeping on the streets.
12. Ajmer Singh Lakhowal (BKU) in Oct was blamed for his unanimous actions to play in the hands of SAD-BJP to torpedo the farmer’s movement. Today he tried to be on stage to gain lost ground but the huge gathering didn’t allow him to speak a single sentence. He used to be a stalwart farmer leader. He had to beg pardon on stage and leave. This shows the real power of this agitation lies in the hands of awakened masses. The movement has a divine hand.
13. China’s Largest Bottled Water Owner Dethrones Ambani As Asia’s Richest Person
14. Adani raises $300 million via selling bonds at 3% on his Container Port.
15. Farmer rally held in Bhopal today.
16. Khalsa Foundation NZ in collaboration with NZ Sikh Youth, Nanaksar Youth, and United Sikhs Australia announces the installation of billboard screens supporting Indian farmers covering metropolitan cities all over New Zealand.
17. Motorcycle rally from Amritsar stopping at many Punjab cities will reach morcha site tonight.
18. In a major blow to caste propaganda played by some top thinkers who claim to be (I know it all about Dalits), Punjab BSP sent its jatha of over 1000 people to Singhu Border. This movement has the support of everybody irrespective of caste, job, religion, and land holding.
19. Zee News being reported on Facebook for hate speech by many people.
20. Stop Funding the Hate campaign starts against Zee TV. Uk Sikhs want advertisers to stop placing adverts with it. Southall Travel, East End Foods and Rajah been contacted. Southall travel confirms they have asked Zee Tv to not run their adverts until the farmers dispute not over.
21. Rep. Andy Levin of Michigan. “I have also been heartened watching democracy in action in India and the popular support this movement is garnering throughout the nation and the global Indian diaspora.”
22. Protest to be held on 15th Jan outside UN Food and Agriculture offices in Rome.
23. Sikh PA – A police officer that punched a Sikh man in the face at a London rally is being investigated for his conduct.
24. Following the incident in Ujjain of a Mosque demolition by RSS. Local Hindutva leader Acharya Shekhar put out a video giving violent threats to Muslims. Warning Muslim to refrain from “disturbing environment”, “We will create so many graveyards in MP that you will struggle for space to bury your dead.”
25. Godi media highlights that #Modishinesin2020 is trending in India. Considering how much manipulation of social media by BJP we have seen in 2020 with hundreds of Sikh pages blocked on FB, Instagram and Twitter. It shows that this trending is more BJP spin.
26. We leave this last update of 2020 dedicated to the bibian of the morcha. May they always stay in Chardi Kala.

TARN TARAN, Punjab—Amid ongoing anti-Modi protests across India by the farmers, an interesting incident came to fore in Tarn Taran town when ex-BJP Minister Anil Joshi’s younger brother Raja Joshi raised anti-Modi slogans after being surrounded by the farmers. He also joined the day-long sit-in-strike by farmers in front of their fashion mall.

Tarn Taran based BJP leader Anil Joshi was elected as a legislator from Amritsar (North) in 2007. During the tenure of SAD-BJP in Punjab, he held the portfolio of Local Bodies, Medical Education & Research as a Cabinet Minister.

Today, the farmers started gathering in front of Joshi Fashion Mall situated in the heart of Tarn Taran city and started raising anti-Modi slogans. Instead of opposing farmers’ move, Anil Joshi’s brother Raja Joshi started pretending to be the supporter of farmers and even offered tea to all the protesting farmers but they refused to drink it. 

On finding Ex-BJP Minister’s brother going round the way, the agitating farmers asked him to ask his brother Anil Joshi to quit BJP but he depicted helplessness in doing so while claiming that Anil Joshi has nothing to do with this business.

During today’s protest, the farmers set a stage at the entrance of Joshi Fashion Mall and Ex-BJP Minister Anil Joshi’s brother Raja Joshi joined the protesting farmers sitting in front of their fashion mall.

Interacting with media on this occasion, Raja Joshi said that he supports the struggle of farmers. “The agitating farmers are being misled against us by our business rivals” he claimed while adding that they have already put up a banner in front of their fashion mall to end any confusion about their opinion about the farmers’ agitation.

HOSHIARPUR, Punjab—Angered over the controversial remark of the former Punjab Minister and senior BJP leader Tikshan Sood, the agitating farmers today heaped dung inside the gate of his house here thereby causing embarrassment for him and his family.

Few days ago, Sood mocked the farmers who are agitating on the borders of Delhi against three farmer laws promulgated by BJP-led union government. He stated that those who are going to Delhi to join the stir, are actually going for a picnic. He faced a backlash from the people of Punjab for making this remark.

Furious over this statement, few farmers carrying black flags appeared outside Sood’s residence on a tractor-trailer which was full of dung. In protest against the remark, they unloaded the trailer there and spoiled the house’s entrance with the dung.

In reaction to this act, Sood himself came out along with his few supporters and exchanged heat with the protesters. Both sides raised slogans against each other. However, the cops prevented any untoward incident by intervening into the matter. Video and pictures of this incident are going viral over social media.

Notably, the BJP leaders and other functionaries of the RSS, its parental body, advocate drinking of cow’s piss for treatment of various illnesses, a comment is being shared over social media that the piss is purchased by the BJP leader at certain cost, but today farmers offered them shit of cow free of cost.

Hours after the incident, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh issued a statement to oppose this act. He said such actions went against the spirit of Punjabiyat and could not be condoned.

Strongly condemning such behaviour, the Chief Minister appealed to the protestors not to cause any harassment or inconvenience to families of political functionaries of any party by resorting to these kinds of acts. Invasion of privacy of people would bring a bad name to the peaceful agitation of the farmers and defeat its very objective, he warned, exhorting protestors not to take the law into their hands in their fight for the farmers’ rights. 

After months of showing exemplary restraint, and not indulging in any violence or lawlessness in Punjab, as well as at the borders of the national capital, some protestors were losing restraint despite being categorically asked by Kisan leaders to keep the protests peaceful, said Captain Amarinder. He urged these protesters to  exercise restraint and express their solidarity with the farmers in the same spirit of self-discipline as had been demonstrated so far by farmer organizations and lakhs of their supporters.

The Chief Minister further warned that such attempts at forcible entry into the houses of any political functionaries, or picketing of their homes, had the dangerous potential of vitiating the atmosphere of peace and destroy the harmony amongst people of diverse castes, religions, communities etc, which was contrarian to the Punjabi spirit of harmony and unity. Politics has its own place, but we must keep the spirit of Punjabiyat alive, he said.

Urging the protestors to keep faith in the Kisan Leaders who were engaged in talks with the Central Government to resolve the crisis triggered by the enactment of the black Farm Laws, the Chief Minister said any acts of harassment or violence were violative of the spirit of their democratic to protest peacefully. Traumatisation of the families of political leaders or workers through such acts could also lead to a law and order problem in Punjab, which had achieved the distinction of being one of the most peaceful states in the country in the past few years, he pointed out.

1. Farmer Galtan Baghpat passes away today at Ghazipur site. Another farmer also passed away taking the total count to 53.
2. Farmers start 2021 by cleaning all the morcha sites. Temperatures are now freezing cold until later in the day.
3. Nagar Kirtan took place today at Singhu Camp in memory of Shaheedi Saka of Sahibzade
4. Union leaders addressed the press in the evening & said that agitations will be intensified if demands are not met on 4th.
5. Tractor Rally to be taken out on 6th.
6. Farm Unions warned that govt shouldn’t take the protests lightly & shouldn’t think of it as another Shaheen Bagh.
7. 6 – 20 Jan will be Desh Jagao Andolan. People will be educated about farm bills.
8. Tomorrow 7 members committee of farmer unions will address a press conference at the Press Club of India.
9. BJP leader Tikshan Sood’s house had a trolley of cow waste placed in the gateway by Sikh youth. BJP leaders got angry with Sikh youth, but the Sikh youth held their ground. Sikh youth told the BJP to stop the hateful rhetoric he put on airwaves against Punjab farmers.
10. Police arrested Dal Khalsa leader Ranveer Singh for cow dung being dumped at BJP leaders house. Still unclear if he is connected or it’s just harassment.
11. Amid ongoing anti-Modi protests across India by the farmers, an interesting incident came to the fore in Tarn Taran town when ex-BJP Minister Anil Joshi’s younger brother Raja Joshi raised anti-Modi slogans after being surrounded by the farmers. He also joined the day-long sit-in-strike by farmers in front of their fashion mall.
12. Bhai Manpreet Singh Kanpur during keertan divan at Gurdwara Shees Ganj Sahib ji, encourages Sangat to go to the morcha and be part of history.
13. USA Punjabi magazine Amritsar Times has released a special issue dedicated to the farmer’s struggle titled ‘Morcha’. It was dedicated to the sangat today from the morcha.
14. A family arrives from Holland to join farmers in Delhi.
15. Punjab BSP join farmers’ protest at Singhu border. State BSP president Jasbir Singh Garhi says the idea of participation is more social than political & they want to strengthen the social fabric in Punjab.
16. Yogendra Yadav criticized Gujarat and UP govt’s acts of trying to stop farmer leaders from participating in the protests.
17. Bike rallies were held in five villages of Rohtak in support of the farmers’ movement and showed their solidarity with the demands of the farmers.
18. In a dubious move, Akali dal has requested the deployment of Paramilitary in Punjab for the upcoming Nigam Parishad elections. Two days ago BJP had demanded the same after meeting Governor. Why in a democracy do they want paramilitary in civilian areas and elections? Why is the Badal team doing BJP bidding unless they are back together?
19. Protests outside Indian Consulate General of San Francisco, in favor of Kirsan Morcha and in opposition to Modi govt. With kirtan and Sangat seeing out the New Year while protesting.
20. ASSOCHAM, The Associated Chambers of Commerce of India; Oldest, Leading, largest and Apex Chamber has written to Punjab govt about Industry losses due to protests
21. Union minister publicly threatening farmer leaders after 30 Dec talks #PiyushGoyal : “We have LIST of 40 people of your organization. Do not open your mouth too much.”

CHANDIGARH: Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Saturday took strong exception to the Governor summoning the state’s top brass instead of seeking a report directly from him, as home minister, on the law and order situation in response to the malicious and politically motivated of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

While the propaganda of the BJP on collapse of law and order in the state was nothing more than a tactic to divert attention from the Farm Laws issue and the resultant farmers’ agitation, if the Governor nevertheless had any concerns on the situation, he should have taken up the matter directly with him (Captain Amarinder) as custodian of the Home Portfolio, said the Chief Minister.

The Chief Minister was reacting to the Governor summoning the Punjab Chief Secretary and DGP to question them on the alleged law and order problems in the state amid sporadic incidents of damage to some mobile towers.

Captain Amarinder slammed the state BJP leadership for adding fuel to the fire, with their irresponsible statements, in the already surcharged atmosphere triggered by the draconian Farm Laws. He termed it a vicious game-plan of the party to undermine the peaceful agitation of the farmers by terming a few minor incidents of damage to some mobile towers as a law and order problem.

“These damaged towers can be, and are being repaired, but what about the lives of the farmers lost in the bitter cold at the Delhi borders, where they continue to fight for their rights amid total apathy from the BJP-led government at the Centre?”, asked the Chief Minister. He expressed shock over the fact that not a single BJP leader had expressed any concern over the deaths of protesting farmers, including some by suicide. “The lost lives cannot be recovered,” he pointed out, asking the Punjab BJP leaders to stop politicizing a peaceful agitation with their ill-conceived comments.

Instead of the slandering of the farmers with terms like `Naxalites’, `Khalistanis’ etc., the BJP should press their central leadership in the Government of India to heed the voice of the `Annadaatas’ and revoke the black farm laws that were threatening the livelihood and future of the farming community. “At a time when the very existence of our farmers is at stake, the BJP leaders are busy indulging in petty politics and also dragging the Constitutional officer of the Governor into their unsavoury agenda,” he added.

Terming as `unfortunate’ the fact that the Governor had bowed to these antics of the BJP, the Chief Minister observed that it had taken just a day for the former to react to the state BJP leadership’s complaint of purported law and order collapse in Punjab. This was in sharp contrast to the prolonged delay in sending to the President the State Amendment Bills, passed by all political parties (barring BJP) in the Vidhan Sabha, for assent, he pointed out.

Captain Amarinder also mocked the BJP Punjab unit’s allegations of assault on democracy in Punjab by the Congress, calling it a shameless act of the pot calling the kettle black. “A party that has virtually destroyed every single democratic institution in the country has no business calling anyone else undemocratic,” he quipped.

HOSHIARPUR, Punjab—Punjab Police have slapped attempt to murder charges against the protesters for piling up cattle-dung at the gate of BJP leader and former Punjab Minister Tikshan Sood on Friday.

Angered over the controversial remark of Sood, the farmers agitating against three farm laws enacted by BJP-led Centre today heaped dung at the gate of his house thereby causing embarrassment for him. Members of the Sikh organization Dal Khalsa which is also participating in the stir, were also amongst the protesters.

The protesters just lodged their protest by unloading the trailer full of dung, but the Police booked the protesters under section 307 (attempt to murder), 452 (House-trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint), 506 (criminal intimidation), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 148 (Rioting, armed with deadly weapon) and 149 (unlawful assembly) of IPC.

Condemning the case registered against the protesters, residents of village Khuda assembled at village Gurdwara as youths of this village were also booked under these charges. They asked the Police to cancel the cases or face intensification of the agitation.

On the basis of the statement of a local BJP worker, the FIR states that the protesters attempted to kill the Minister with deadly weapons. “The video of the incident is viral over social media and it is proof of what happened there exactly. The protest was totally peaceful and nothing happened there like killing anyone. The FIR is falsely registered against the protesters”, said the villagers.

On the other hand, Punjab Police have started raiding the houses of those booked in the case. However, the justice loving organizations of Punjab are opposing the false FIR. “This has exposed the fact once again that the state government of Punjab is working under pressure from the BJP-led centre. That is why the Punjab Police have registered this false case. In such a situation, Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh’s statement that he is working independently, makes no sense”, said a villager.

All the human rights organizations have lodged protests against cases registered against the protesters illegitimately.

The dung was heaped as Sood mocked the farmers who are agitating on the borders of Delhi against three farmer laws promulgated by BJP-led union government. He stated that those who are going to Delhi to join the stir, are actually going for a picnic. He was facing a backlash from the people of Punjab for making this remark.

1. Yesterday, Kisan Mazdoor Sangarh Samiti, Bhai Dayal Singh who was also block president of the zone Shaheed Blaka Singh has passed away today. Dayal Singh had returned home yesterday from Singhu Border due to a cold that had caused him pneumonia.
2. Today, 3 Farmers passed away. Baba Kashmir Singh s/o Diwan Singh from Village Kuariawali of Fazilka area has passed away today. He was situated at the Tikri border.
3. Another Farmer in Madya Pradesh committed suicide yesterday because the electricity dept has been harassing him. Due to debt and stress, he ended his life.
4. Jashanpreet Singh (18yr Old) s/o Gurmail Singh has passed away at Tikri Border. He was from Bathinda and had arrived today. The cause of death is unknown yet
5. Citing the newly enacted farm laws, Khoja Traders, a trader firm in Dewas, Madhya Pardes, owned by brothers Pavan Khoja and Suresh Khoja, duped 22 farmers in Harda district of their 2,581 quintals of lentil and gram produce worth nearly Rs 2 crore.
6. Farmers have set up a barricade at the Ghazipur border and called it Baba Boota Singh Garja Singh barricade.
7. 10-year-old Sikh boy drives Jeep to morcha with his Grandmother.
8. It rained, Hemkunt Foundation team rushed to the Noida (Chilla) Border and set up a tent city within 3 hrs. The waterproof and insulated tent cities are now available at all major borders across Delhi
9. Farmers will march into Delhi on the 26th of January, India’s Republic day if their demands not met by then.
10. Due to heavy rains, the Real Punjabi Dhaba shopping mall owner’s near-site allows elderly farmers and Bibian to use showers, dining areas, and toilets in his site.
11. When heavy rain came stage area and Sangat cleared, except for 2 elderly Bibian shouting slogans, saying rain will not deter them. Sangat then gathered around them.
12. Khalsa Aid India volunteers are distributing raincoats to our farmer community because of the sudden rains since today morning.
13. 6 vehicles of decorated army veterans coming to Delhi to support the farmers.
14. A group of Sikh farmers walked 12 days from Siri Anandpur Sahib to the Delhi border to join the farmers.
15. Badal Dal assaults a Sikh youth near Fatehgarh sahib and videos him pleading sorry to Sukhbir Badal for him being chased away from Fatehgarh Sahib.
16. Lakha Sidhana posts a strong video against Badals calling them bullies who have ruined and sold Punjab to BJP. He directly challenges them and Jagir “Kaur” as a child killer. He calls on Punjab to rid itself of Badal and Captain, both of whom have never done anything to save Punjab.
17. More protests against Bibi Jagir “Kaur” by Sikh youth in Punjab.
18. Bhai Harpreet Singh Manku and other Singh arrested in Ludhiana while peacefully protesting against BJP. He was released due to Sangat pressure later on in the day.
19. Street vendors from across the country join farmers’ protest at the Singhu border. Shaktiman Ghosh, all-India general secretary, National Hawker Federation from Kolkata, said that they have come here from various parts of the country to extend support to the protesters.
20. (Reuters) -India’s markets watchdog fined Reliance Industries 250 million rupees ($3.42 million) and its chairman Mukesh Ambani 150 million rupees on Friday for what it said were fraudulent trades while selling a stake in a subsidiary in 2007.”
21. 101 Days Of Protest | Dharna at Gehri Mandi near Jandiala Guru Railway Station in Punjab enters day 101. Singhu like arrangements at Jandiala Guru. Farmers continue to brave rain and cold.
22. Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Saturday took strong exception to the Governor summoning the state’s top brass instead of seeking a report directly from him, as home minister, on the law and order situation in response to the malicious and politically motivated of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
23. Sikh Delegates to @CA_Dem are leading a coalition of diverse delegates and candidates calling on the Party to pass a resolution supporting farmers in India.
24. Former India cricket captain MS Dhoni has a farmhouse in Ranchi. It will be used to send the MS Dhoni brand vegetables to Dubai for which the Agriculture Department of Jharkhand has taken the responsibility. Punjab farmers just want the same opportunities.
25. Godi media Zee News anchor Sudhir Chaudhry put out a story that farmers are helping China but stopping vital supplies to the army in the front line. As usual, this makes no sense as logistics for the army do not go through Delhi. More fake news against farmers.
26. Farmer seminars and book distribution happening every day at the Singhu border.
27. Farmers having fun at Singhu border having a tug of war. Rope snaps as both sides laughing.
28. NRI of Majha have provided free diesel to farmers
29. After 38 days in the Capital, Modi has done. Zero Press Conferences, Zero Talks with farmers, Zero Condolences for martyrs, Zero Message for farmers, Zero Visit to farmers, Zero Invites for farmers to PMO, Zero Invites to farmers to the residence, Zero dialogue to Delegation to Singhu/Tikri.
30. Below are pictures of the 3 farmers who passed away today and a picture of an injured Bihar farmer from rally yesterday who were brutally put by the BJP and Janata Dal CM and police in Bihar.

CHANDIGARH, Punjab—As Punjab Governor VP Singh Badnore summoned state’s top brass on law and order situation, Police of the state has tightened the noose around the farmers agitating against the state BJP leaders over three farm laws enacted by the saffron party-led central government of India. The Police have started using force on the agitating farmers.

The change in the behavior of the Punjab Police has become apparent from some fresh incidents that happened in Punjab today.

The Police lathi-charged hundreds of farmers gathered near the residence of BJP district president Randeep Singh Deol in Sangrur to protest the state BJP president Ashwani Kumar during his visit. Few young farmers were also injured in this lathi-charge.

Another latest instance is the case registered against the youngsters of Dhanaula village of Barnala, who played a leading role in ensuring the boycott of the village resident and senior BJP leader Harjit Grewal who is facing backlash for making negative remarks against the farmers and their agitation. The Police cited that “they had formed a gang that provokes the people”.

This took place after Badnore summoned the Punjab Chief Secretary Vini Mahajan and DGP Dinkar Gupta to question them on the alleged law and order problems in the state.

The action taken against the farmers has exposed the claims being made by Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh that his government stands with the farmers and their cause. This is drawing flaks for the Amarinder government that controls the Police. People of Punjab are interpreting it as double standards of the Chief Minister. “On one hand, the Chief Minister is making statements in favour of the farmers and projecting himself as their savior, on the other he is using force and registering cases against them”, said Lakha Sidhana, a noted Punjab activist.

The Congress leaders claim off the record that the Chief Minister is under pressure from the Central government which is trying to contain the stir in Punjab by using the office of Governor, and Punjab Police is forced to take action against the farmers.

It is worth mentioning here that Amarinder Singh on Sunday lambasted the BJP Punjab leadership over its sordid attempts to lower the prestige of the high gubernatorial office by pulling the Constitutional authority into unsavoury controversies in states where it is in the Opposition in what can only be construed as a bid to get rid of democratically elected governments there.

Meanwhile, Congress MLA Navjot Singh Sidhu says in Tweet, “There’s No Law & Order problem in Punjab, Farmers dying on Delhi’s borders should be Govt’s real concern. Govt is maligning Punjabis and scuttling Our Democratic Voice by projecting us as anti-national to safeguard Reliance’s business interest & create Grounds for President’s Rule”.

CHANDIGARH, Punjab—Enraged over Punjab Governor VP Badnore summoning top brass of the state on law and order situation, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Sunday lambasted the BJP Punjab leadership over its sordid attempts to lower the prestige of the high gubernatorial office by pulling the Constitutional authority into unsavory controversies in states where it is in the Opposition in what can only be construed as a bid to get rid of democratically elected governments there.

Reacting sharply to the BJP state unit’s tweet accusing him of trying to make Punjab into another West Bengal, the Chief Minister said, “It is the power-hungry BJP which has been trying to use the office of the Governor for its own vested interests. It has been happening in West Bengal, it happened in Maharashtra, and now they are trying to do the same in Punjab.”

“The BJP, which has been systemically trampling all democratic and Constitutional institutions, has not spared even the office of Governor”, said the Chief Minister, adding that “these actions do not behoove a party that is the custodian of these institutions as the ruling party at the Centre.”

Captain Amarinder quipped that the BJP, despite being a national party, seemed totally ignorant about the Constitutional provisions, according to which the Governor was the titular head of the state but all administration authority vested with the chief minister. “Don’t these BJP leaders know that the law and order responsibility of my state lies with me not only as chief minister but also as the home minister?,” he asked, urging the BJP leaders of Punjab to first learn the ABCs of the Indian Constitution before shooting their mouth on  Constitutional matters.

Describing as shocking the BJP’s repeated attempts at “politicisation of the farmers’ agitation”, the Chief Minister said the party was shamelessly exploiting the situation and spreading a carnage of lies for furthering its political interests. This, he said, was evident in their bid to project the farmers’ genuine anger as a law and order situation in Punjab. 

Incidents of BJP leaders facing the wrath of farmers have been reported from the BJP-ruled Haryana, and even UP, he pointed out, adding that by the same yardstick those should also be construed as a case of collapse of law and order in those states. “And if the incidents of farmers venting their anger at BJP leaders in Punjab are at the behest of the ruling Congress here, as they are alleging, then by the same logic, the ruling BJP in Haryana and UP is to blame for the trouble there,” he added.

It was sad that at a time when farmers were dying every day in the bitter winter cold while sitting in protest at Delhi borders for the past nearly 40 days, the BJP was busy indulging in cheap politics, said Captain Amarinder. The BJP would gain more political mileage by responding to the woes of the farmers and heeding their voice instead of resorting to political theatrics and lies, he said, adding that it was high time the ruling party at the Centre stopped playing with the lives of the farmers and repealed the black Farm Laws. 

“The entire nation can feel the pain of the farmers except the party which heads the country,” said Captain Amarinder, urging the BJP-led central government to climb down from its exalted ego and bring the farming crisis to an end before it gets completely out of hand and brings India to ruination.

HOSHIARPUR, Punjab—Hoshiarpur Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Navjot Singh Mahal today constituted a special investigation team (SIT) to review the First Information Report (FIR) registered against the young protesters for piling up cattle-dung at the gate of the house of former Punjab Minister and senior BJP leader Tikshan Sood.

Mahal took this step after the farmers along with Dal Khalsa leaders met him today to raise the issue of “illegitimate” FIR registered under sections 307 (attempt to murder), 452 (House-trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint), 506 (criminal intimidation), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 148 (Rioting, armed with a deadly weapon) and 149 (unlawful assembly) of Indian Penal Code (IPC).

He said the SIT would investigate the incident thoroughly and address its all aspects.

The farmers who met him, demanded cancellation of the FIR citing that the young protesters angry over the objectionable remark made by the BJP leader did nothing offensive that is stated in the FIR, and adding attempt to murder charges to it is the most intolerable and objectionable act of the Police.

“The FIR has named Ranvir Singh alias Tohra, but there was no person with this name amongst the youngsters who piled up the dung. The protest was symbolic and totally peaceful, yet the Police booked the protesters under pressure from Sood and other BJP leaders. It was Sood who used obscene abusive language publicly against the protesters going by the video of the incident. It is highly shameful to use this abusive language for such a high stature person who has been minister of Punjab”, said Harcharanjit Singh Dhami, Dal Khalsa senior leader, who led the delegation of the farmers.  

Another Dal Khalsa leader Ranveer Singh said, “Sood should apologize for the words he used publicly without bothering the presence of the women at the spot or he would face protest by the women who turned angry over his objectionable language”.

The dung was heaped as Sood mocked the farmers who are agitating on the borders of Delhi against three farmer laws promulgated by BJP-led union government. He stated that those who are going to Delhi to join the stir, are actually going for a picnic. He was facing a backlash from the people of Punjab for making this remark.

On the basis of the statement of a local BJP worker, the FIR states that the protesters attempted to kill the Minister with deadly weapons.

All the human rights organizations have lodged protests against the case registered against the protesters “illegitimately”.

AMRITSAR SAHIB, Punjab—Reacting on Punjab Governor VP Singh Badnore summoning the Punjab’s top officials on the law and order situation, former Cabinet Minister and Congress MLA Navjot Singh Sidhu today stated that the BJP-led led central government is preparing ground for imposing president rule in Punjab by making a non-issue of law and order an issue.

He made this statement a day after Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh took strong exception to the Governor summoning the state’s top brass instead of seeking a report directly from him, as home minister, on the law and order situation in response to the malicious and politically motivated of the BJP.

Sidhu endorsed the concern of the Chief Minister in a tweet. He says, “There’s No Law & Order problem in Punjab, Farmers dying on Delhi’s borders should be Govt’s real concern. Govt is maligning Punjabis and scuttling Our Democratic Voice by projecting us as anti-national to safeguard Reliance’s business interest & create Grounds for President’s Rule”.

There’s No Law & Order problem in Punjab, Farmers dying on Delhi’s borders should be Govt’s real concern. Govt is maligning Punjabis & scuttling Our Democratic Voice by projecting us as anti-national to safeguard Reliance’s business interest & create Grounds for President’s Rule

— Navjot Singh Sidhu (@sherryontopp) January 3, 2021

On the issue of summoning the top brass of Punjab, the CM had said, “This is nothing more than a tactic to divert attention from the Farm Laws issue and the resultant farmers’ agitation. If the Governor nevertheless had any concerns on the situation, he should have taken up the matter directly with him (Captain Amarinder) as custodian of the Home Portfolio”.

Like the Chief Minister, Sidhu reacted to the Governor summoning the Punjab Chief Secretary and DGP to question them on the alleged law and order problems in the state amid sporadic incidents of damage to some mobile towers.

Captain Amarinder slammed the state BJP leadership for adding fuel to the fire, with their irresponsible statements, in the already surcharged atmosphere triggered by the draconian Farm Laws. He termed it a vicious game-plan of the party to undermine the peaceful agitation of the farmers by terming a few minor incidents of damage to some mobile towers as a law and order problem.

Notably, the pro-BJP elements and a section of Indian media are spreading vilification against the Punjabis who are agitating against the farm laws on Delhi’s borders, by terming them “anti-national”, “terrorists”, “ISI-backed” and “Pakistan-backed” etc. Few days ago, the international Sikh NGO Khalsa Aid was dubbed as “terror” organization by Indian news channel Zee News. Volunteers of this NGO are camping at the sites of protest on Delhi borders to help the protesters. 

1. Shamsher Singh from Punjab who was a volunteer at the stall of the British Sikh Council at Singhu Border passed away today.
2. Kulvir Singh from Haryana passed away today.
3. Amarjit Singh Dusura also passed away.
4. Bapu Iqbal Singh who is very elderly had a heart attack in the freezing rain and cold winds. Quick actions by the youth doing CPR saved him from death. He is recovering.
5. Rain showers have intensified cold-wave at Singhu Farmers Protest site but farmers say that these hardships are just a test of their determination. They say that they would certainly pass all these.
6. Police have fired tear gas shells at farmers in the Rewari area. A huge contingent of farmers is headed to Delhi. Haryana Police has used tear gas shells injuring around 20-22 farmers. Farmers to stay out at Rewari tonight. Estimated strength-3000-4000.
7. Amrit Sanchaar happened today at the Singhu border with 70 Gursikhs being blessed with Amrit.
8. Anger at Modi for acting to save 1500 Jio towers in Punjab, but not recognizing the 55 farmers who have died and hundreds of thousands on the streets.
9. Punjab Police have slapped attempt to murder charges against the protesters for piling up cattle-dung at the gate of BJP leader and former Punjab Minister Tikshan Sood on Friday.
10. Large convoy of farmers on tractors and trolleys going to Singhu from Sangrur. Police lathis charge and injure them. Police even tried dragging elder Bibian off trolleys. Tractors breakthrough but elders injured by police. Protesting farmers in Sangrur protested against the rally of Punjab BJP President Ashwani Sharma, on the occasion, the police also lathi-charged the farmers.
11. Farmers’ unions condemned the lathi charge on farmers at Sangrur today. Unions said that peaceful protesting is a constitutional right and the use of brute force is wrong and unlawful.
12. The veteran Indian soldiers arrived today at Singhu border.
13. Punjab BJP chief Ashwini Sharma, Surjeet Jayani & Shwet Malik we’re meeting at Hotel Dhingra in Moga. Farmers got to know about it & approached hotel. Police tried to stop farmers but was unsuccessful. The three leaders escaped the scene under police escort.
14. Farmers protesting at houses and wherever BJP officials are in Punjab. Hundreds protesting. In Moga, BJP president Ashwani Sharma in press conference complained at people showing black flags to BJP.
15. Farmers today surrounded the vehicle convoy of Harsimrat Badal, before they did it to Sukhbir Badal.
16. Navjot Sidhu has said that the Central govt is preparing grounds for governor rule in Punjab with its tactics
17. Farmers from Punjab have sent legal notices to Union Minister Giriraj Singh, Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel and member of Board of Governors Ram Madhav, for allegedly making defamatory/derogatory statements against the farmers’ protests against the three farm laws. They have sought an unconditional apology from the three leaders and withdrawal of their statements.
18. Nihang Singh demonstrate horse riding skills on Delhi national highway.
19. 8 Kabbadi teams from Punjab, UP and Haryana have arrived at Singhu border. They will play Kabbadi at protest site.
20. Australia Sikhs tag each other on various social media platforms for ‘Mann ki Baat”. Each person tagged make a short video on why they support the farmers in India whilst supporting Australia against Adani (Indian funded) coal mines and spread the word. Tag each other and keep the chain going while creating huge awareness.
21. 90% Jio telecom towers have been restored in Punjab. The generator that was kept in Gurdwara to prevent its usage again at tower or it getting stolen has been handed over to police, FIR registered against 8 for damage to property
22. BSF and RAF have been deployed to stop farmers from marching towards Delhi. But every night and morning they come to farmers demanding firewood, which they use to make fire and keep themselves warm.
23. United Sikhs operating at 3 camps – Tikri, Gazipur and Singhu borders with 150 volunteers are physically doing sewa at these camps. They have arranged 45-50 Doctors have given their volunteers services at the Medical camp. More than 450 patients at the three medical camps each are getting medical treatment.
24. A large number of farmers from village Damulia near Nadala have come to participate in the farmers’ agitation today, donating water bottles and hundreds of kilos of coffee, sugar and dry milk to the Sikh Relief hot drinks machine station.
25. Franchise outlet Sardar Ji Baksh has set up its stall at Tikri and is serving free imported coffee to protesting farmers along with sandwiches.
26. Harassment of those supporting the morcha continues. IT dept launches probe against Music label Speed Records, actor-singer Diljit Dosanjh for allegedly routing foreign money to finance farmer protests.
27. Lastly, we ask everyone around the world to do Chaupai Sahib ji and Ardas for Chardi kala of everyone protesting against the Modi regime. The weather and freezing cold rain have made conditions very hard for the elderly and children of the morcha.

CHANDIGARH, Punjab—On January 3, former Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal faced a sharp protest by the farmers in Mansa district where she had gone to extends condolences to the family members of farmers who have lost lives in the ongoing farmers’ agitation at the Delhi border.

The angered farmers showed black flags to the caravan of Harsimrat Badal and raised slogans asking her to go back.

Harsimrat Badal had gone to extend condolences to the family members of martyred youth Jagseer Singh in village Bhadra. As soon as she started moving towards village Dodra, the local farmers gathered there and started showing black flags to her caravan while raising slogans asking her to go back.

The angered farmers openly announced that Harsimrat Badal has betrayed the farmers so they won’t allow her to enter into any village of Mansa district.

The leaders of Bharati Kisan Union (Ugrahan) said that the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) has never come forward to join the farmers’ struggle and now it is just playing politics by extending condolences to the family members of martyred farmers.

After these protests, Harsimrat Badal canceled her scheduled visits to the other villages including Guraddi, Bachhoana, and Dharampura.

Prior to her visit, Harsimrat had tweeted that the BJP Government has failed the farmers in meeting their demands. She said the only hope for farmers was that the Supreme Court of India intervenes in this matter.

However, in response to Harsimrat’s tweet, she faced strong opposition from social media users asking her to watch her own video in which she defended the anti-farm laws as the Cabinet Minister of Food Processing in the Government of India.

CHANDIGARH, Punjab—In a strong reaction to the false FIR registered against protesting farmers in Hoshiarpur, the Bharati Kisan Union (Rajewal) has announced to block major roads in Jalandhar and stage protests outside BJP leaders’ residences if the Punjab government doesn’t scrap the FIR by January 6.

On January 1, the protesting farmers had dumped cattle dung at the entrance of BJP leader Tikshan Sood’s house after he made a mockery of the ongoing farmers’ protest while stating that the farmers were going for a picnic in Delhi and they were totally unaware of farm laws.

Later, all of these protesters were indicted under section 307 (attempt to murder), 452 (House-trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint), 506 (criminal intimidation), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 148 (Rioting, armed with deadly weapon) and 149 (unlawful assembly) of IPC.

The invocation of irrelevant sections in this FIR revealed the ill intention focused at intimidating protesting farmers.  

Interacting with media in Jalandhar on January 3, BKU (Rajewal) leader Kulwinder Singh has said that if the FIR doesn’t get scrapped by January 6 then they will be forced to block roads in Jalandhar and continue to dump cattle dung at the doors of BJP leaders’ residences in coming days.

Kulwinder Singh further said that the farmers want peace in the state but if any leader gives inflammatory statements against farmers then he is bound to draw flak.

“We want to make it clear that we are not scared of FIRs but if the Punjab government will continue to support provoking leaders like Tikshan Sood then we would definitely take action,” he said while adding that the invocation of an attempt to murder charges just for dumping cattle dung can’t be justified at any cost.  

Hoshiarpur SSP Navjot Singh Mahal has said that the FIR was registered as per the complaint received. “An SIT has already been constituted to probe the incident and the SIT will drop irrelevant charges after a thorough probe,” he added.  

Meanwhile, it is learned that Tikshan Sood has now started claiming that his statement was misinterpreted.

CHANDIGARH, Punjab—Vindicating the Punjab government’s stance on the investigations into the 2015 sacrilege incidents, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to hand over all case diaries and papers related to the cases to the Punjab Police within a month.

Terming the High Court directions as an endorsement of the state government’s stand on the issue, Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh said it was high time the CBI listened to the courts and handed the case files back to the state so that the perpetrators of the crimes could be brought to justice.

He said his government had been fighting the CBI high-handedness for more than 2 years, but the agency had failed to heed the various directions and orders of the courts in this time.

Asserting his commitment to bring the cases to their logical conclusion, the Chief Minister said the central agency should respect the verdict of the judiciary and stop overreaching the courts at the behest of its political masters.

The High Court’s directions came during a hearing on the plea of one of the accused in the 2015 Faridkot sacrilege incidents, Sukhjinder Singh @ Sunny, challenging the investigation being undertaken by a SIT of the Punjab Police on the ground that the CBI is already seized of the investigation. 

The High Court rejected Sukhjinder’s plea and asked the CBI to hand over all relevant documents and material in the sacrilege cases to the Punjab Police. It further directed the Punjab Police to consider the material handed over by the CBI and file a supplementary challan in the case, for consideration by the trial court. The trial court may then notice to the accused, if thought fit, the judges further said.

It is noteworthy that the CBI has been scuttling the SIT probe since the state government withdrew its consent for the probe by the central agency in 2018. The CBI has been persistently refusing to hand the case files back to state, and in September 2019, went so far as to constitute a new investigative team in a clear bid to obstruct the SIT investigation, after having earlier filed a closure report.

The SIT, it may be recalled, had been constituted by the Captain Amarinder Singh led state government in September 2018, after the Vidhan Sabha passed a resolution withdrawing consent to CBI to investigate the cases, noting lack of progress in the investigation. This decision was challenged before the Punjab and Haryana High Court and was upheld by a judgment passed on 25th January 2019. Despite this, the CBI did not hand over the case diaries and papers relating to the sacrilege cases to the Punjab Police. Instead, the CBI proceeded to file a closure report before the CBI Court in July 2019. Thereafter, the CBI requested the CBI Court to keep the closure report in abeyance and sought permission to investigate the case further. 

CBI’s appeal challenging the 2019 judgment of the Punjab and Haryana High Court was dismissed by the Supreme Court in February 2020. Even after dismissal of the appeal, CBI did not hand over the case papers to the Punjab Police. A Special Investigation Team was constituted by the Punjab Police to independently investigate into the sacrilege matters. The SIT filed a chargesheet before the trial court in Faridkot in July 2020, which was challenged by Sukhjinder Singh. 

The incidents of sacrilege occurred between June to October 2015 following theft of the sacred Guru Granth Sahib from a Gurdwara in Burj Jawaharsinghwala, Faridkot and discovery of torn pages from the Holy Book in Bargari, Faridkot. They caused widespread discontent and outrage amongst members of the Sikh community. 

These incidents led to large-scale protests and agitations in October 2015. The retaliatory action taken by the police led to injuries and death of two persons. In 2015, the Akali Dal Government had transferred investigation of the sacrilege incident to the CBI. Retd. Justice Zora Singh Commission was appointed to inquire into the incidents of sacrilege and police action in the protests, and a report was submitted to the Government in 2016. 

After the Congress Government came to power in 2017, finding the report of Retd. Justice Zora Singh to be inconclusive, the Government appointed a fresh Commission of Inquiry, Retd. Justice Ranjit Singh Commission, who submitted a report in 2018.

1. Bhai Gurcharan Singh, a farmer passed away today at Singhu border. This takes the toll to 60. Bhai Gurcharan Singh resident of village Bakhopeer of Bhawanigarh. During his stay at Singhu border protest, he fell ill, went back to his village, and died due to pneumonia.
2. Last night’s 9-hour relentless rain drenched the whole of Gazipur site. Water entered all tents. All mattress soggy, blankets wet, tents on slip roads broken. Volunteers worked hard today to change mattresses and blankets when new ones arrived. They hope no more rain today.
3. Power was cut last night so conditions were even worse for protesting farmers.
4. 110 canisters of tear gas were fired upon a convoy of farmers on Delhi – Jaipur road over a 3 hour period. Many tear gas canisters were out of date so exploded as they landed. Many farmers injured as the police directly shit them with canisters and many trolleys on fire during the night. One farmer got hit on his arm and leg with 2 different canisters.
5. Scenes at the Delhi – Jaipur border road were like a war zone.
6. 3000 more farmers arrive on tractors from Haryana to the Sahajpur border.
7. The latest round of meetings between farmers’ unions and the Indian government minister ended inconclusively today as the BJP refused to withdraw the three controversial farm bills.The next meeting has been scheduled for Friday 8 Jan.
8. 2 minute silence held for all the farmers who died so far, but no chance in govts stance on the laws.
9. Farmers have taken up the silence in the post-lunch session and have asked ministers to respond to the repeal demand. Farmers have decided to not speak anything until govt answers clearly on what it thinks.
10. On asked why didn’t unions discuss MSP when Tomar was ready to give it in writing & as law as well, Dhaliwal said “What will we do with MSP when the laws still exist? How do you implement even an MSP law when there will be no Mandi and our lands gone”
11. BJP General Secretary is calling for Governor rule in Punjab. They are putting in place plans to sideline Capt Amrinder Singh. This will mean major crackdown on farmers.
12. Punjab BJP Representatives will meet Prime Minister Tomorrow.
13. “Had the chief minister been discharging his duties towards Punjab, it wouldn’t have become the land of mafia gangs and the people wouldn’t have been living in terror where there is a jungle raj,” BJP’s national general secretary said to Tribune India.
14. Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Rana KP singh has said that Narendra Modi govt is trying to subvert and destroy constitutional framework of country.
15. 30 Buddhist monks arrive at morcha to support the farmers.
16. Facing wrath of farmers, Harsimrat Badal had to cancel her four scheduled programmes in villages. Hundreds of people chanted slogans during her visit and tried to gehrao her convoy. However, the police team led by Budhlada DSP Baljinder Pannu manage to escort Harsimrat’s convoy out of the village. Protesters even showed black flags to her convoy. Harsimrat was to pay condolences to the families of slain farmers and deceased members of the party in the villages. This was her first visit to the area in her constituency after her resignation from the Union Cabinet.
17. A young protestor came to UNITED SIKHS camp where this person lost his consciousness and fell down. A young protestor with critically high blood pressure was immediately taken to the hospital by our team at the Medical camp at the border. Timely support helped him recover which otherwise could have resulted into a casualty as shared by the doctors who attended the patient.
18. A Punjab family are calling for more buses to be used instead of tractors for travel to Delhi amid the FarmersProtest. The call comes after their relative, 16-year-old Gurjinder Singh, died en route to the protest after a tractor accident. Others have died in similar incidents.
19. District Police chief Hoshiarpur Navjot Singh Mahal announced that cases against the Tikshin Sood cow dung unloading case will be taken back. This comes after lot of meetings with farmers delegations and lawyers.
20. Three persons have been booked by Barnala Police under section 153A,153,149 of IPC for allegedly defacing the property of BJP leader Harjit =Grewal located in Dhanaula. One person has been arrested.
21. A religious organization from the Gurdaspur district of Punjab built Tin Shed to Cook Food at Singhu Border. It’s on the national highway. Due to bad weather and rain, it was much needed.
22. Indian income tax department has initiated an investigation into funding sources of Singer @diljitdosanjh. Diljit had donated 1 crore rupees to cause of farmers. Tax department started this inquiry after receiving complaint from Legal Rights observatory which is affiliated with RSS.
23. Vijay Patel on Twitter who @vijaygajera is the one co-ordinating complaints against Khalsa Aid, Dharam Seva Records and Diljit Dosanjh.
24. Reports that Ajay, son of senior BJP minister Amit Shah did not pay tax on time, but no case registered against him. Hypocrisy….
25. While Indian media continues its vilification campaigns against @Khalsa_Aid and @RaviSinghKA , the transport association of UK has written a letter to Ravi Singh Sahib ji thanking his organisation for setting up langars for stranded people on the UK- France Border.
26. Punjab Haryana High court has directed CBI to submit report in 2015 Beadbi cases without any further delay.
27. Worlds 2nd largest rail network Bharti Rail now sold by Modi to Adani. It’s now called Adani Rail. So after ports, airports and now Rail. Indias infrastructure is being sold to Adani.
28. Birth Anniversary of Gaddar Party’s Mohan Singh Bhakna was celebrated and dedicated to farmers at his native village.
29. Sikh Relief has erected yet another tent village for the protesting farmers of India. With the support of Sikh Assembly and Jet Singh Trust we are now sheltering thousands of farmers from the freezing temperatures and incessant rain.
30. The sites are Ghazipur at Mayur Vihar on the U.P border, Jaipur border Rajasthan, Singhu and Tikri borders of Delhi. We are providing shelter, food, water, hot drinks and warm bedding to all regardless of caste, creed or religion.
31. Ambanis Reliance says it has nothing to do with farm laws, then files plea in Punjab and Haryana High Court. However Agriculture Minister specifically mentioned Ambani and Adani as benefitting from laws.
32. Cameramen and reporters outside Vighian Sabha during the farmers meeting with Ministers. They were waiting outside all day starving until Gurus Sikhs came with Langar!! This same media has gone on defamation campaign against farmers.
33. Pictures of farmer Gurcharan Singh who passed and young 26 year old, Gurjinder singh who passed away while traveling to morcha. Then pictures of injuries to farmers.

AMRITSAR SAHIB, Punjab—In a significant development, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Jagir ‘Kaur’ today said they would not send any special invitation to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the grand events being organized to mark important centenaries in coming months, including 400^th birth anniversary of ninth Guru Sri Guru Teg Bahadar.

She was interacting with the media after chairing a meeting of SGPC executive committee at Teja Singh Samundri Hall. “The SGPC openly invites all to attend these events, but will not send any special invitation to the PM because of his stand taken against us and damaging the interests of farmers”, said the SGPC chief responding to a media query.

Earlier, the SGPC decided during the meeting to install solar systems inside the historic gurdwaras to reduce the cost of electricity and a plan would be drawn for the preparation of langar by steam. She said the solar systems would be installed at gurdwaras and a committee of office-bearers, officials, and technical experts would be constituted for its implementation. Similarly, in addition to adopting steam method for preparing langar in gurdwaras, a plan is also being prepared for making cardboard and paper with the leftovers in the future.

The SGPC also decided to organize a grand event at Sri Anandpur Sahib every year in the memory of Baba Jiwan Singh and this event will be held on the day of the arrival of paawan sees (sacred head) of the ninth Sikh master Guru Teg Bahadur Ji from Delhi to Sri Anandpur Sahib.

“The 400th birth anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib and the 100th anniversary of Saka Nankana Sahib would be marked on a large scale. On the occasion of the centenary, the Shiromani Committee (SGPC) will send a large jatha (batch) to Pakistan, which will include members of the Shiromani Committee and other prominent personalities”, she said.

She said that a grand event to mark the centenary would be held at Sri Amritsar Sahib, while other events related to martyrs of Sri Nankana Sahib including Bhai Lachhman Singh Dharowali would be held at their respective places. The 400th birth centenary of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib would be marked with Jaho-Jalal (awe-inspiring appearance) and soon the outline of the function would be made public, said Jagir ‘Kaur’.

A resolution was also passed praising the recognition of Sikhism in Austria.

She said, “Sikhs around the world have established a distinct identity by following the teachings of Guru Sahib and it is gratifying that Sikhism is gaining recognition in different countries.”

Also tributes were paid by reciting Mool Mantra and Gur Mantra and passing of resolution of condolence in connection with the passing away of Baba Ram Singh Singhrewale (Karnal), Prof. Devinderpal Singh Bhullar’s mother Bibi Upkar Kaur, great dhadi (ballad singer) of Sikh community Bhai Pritpal Singh Bains and the farmers who passed away during the farmers struggle.

The SGPC president demanded the immediate reopening of Kartarpur Sahib. “The Government of India should respect the sentiments of the sangat. The corridor, which was temporarily closed due to corona, should now be reopened in view of the present situation. The Prime Minister of the country should take note in this regard, as now the sangat are going to the religious places in the country as usual.”

She strongly condemned the making of videos at Sachkhand Sri Harmandir Sahib and posting the same after adding songs on social media by a girl.

SGPC president said, “Despite the fact that the SGPC had put up prohibitory information boards for recording such videos inside the complex, people commit such acts. Strict action would be taken against those people who commit such acts through the Cyber Crime Cell. Orders have been issued to take action against the girl who had recently posted the video on social media.”

Bibi Jagir Kaur appealed to the sangat visiting the shrine not to do anything that would offend the dignity of the shrine and the sentiments of the sangat.

CHANDIGARH, Punjab—Keeping in view the ongoing harsh winter nights and rainy environment, the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee has extended a helping hand for the agitating farmers by offering mobile night shelter facility. The DSGMC has converted 25 buses into mobile night shelter so that some of the protesting farmers could spend their nights and rainy days without any trouble.

While departing these mobile night shelters for farmers this evening, DSGMC president Manjinder Singh Sirsa said that all kinds of facilities including hot water and geyser will also be provided to the protesting farmers. “In the first phase, we have modified 25 buses for night shelter but in the coming days we are committed to provide any number of buses depending upon the need,” he added.

He further said that the DSGMC stands firmly in the back of struggling farmers and will not let the harsh weather hamper struggle of farmers in any way.

It is pertinent to note here that the protesting farmers, who are spending harsh winter nights in the tents erected on roads in Delhi, are enduring hardships due to the rainy environment in North India.

Several visuals of struggling farmers’ hardships during these rainy days have been circulating over social but this harsh weather has failed in breaking the resolve of farmers.

CHANDIGARH, Punjab—In protest of the false FIR against farmers for dumping cattle dung at the entrance of BJP leader Tikshan Sood’s house, hundreds of farmers staged protest outside the District Administrative Complex of Hoshiarpur on January 4. Notably, the Hoshiarpur police had charged the protesting farmers with attempt to murder.

Finding no way out, SSP Navjot Singh Mahal held a meeting with the farmers in which 15-member joint struggle committee formed by various farmer organizations pursued talk on behalf of farmers.

In this meeting, the Hoshiarpur police agreed to cancel false FIR registered against the protesting farmers.

Later, SP Raminder Singh, Tanda DSP Daljit Singh Khakh and DSP Gurpreet Singh Gill reached on site of protest along with farmer leaders and announced to cancel FIR.

Earlier, farmers demanded immediate cancellation of the FIR lodged by the district police under pressure from the BJP. They said their protest would continue till their demand was met. They said a case should be registered against Sood for abusing and threatening them.