Punjab Bandh: Schools, Colleges Shut Over Ravidas Temple Demolition

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Chandigarh: All schools, colleges, government offices in Jalandhar, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur and Kapurthala will remain closed on Tuesday due to a call given by Ravidasia community in Punjab for a state-wide shutdown to protest over the demolition of the 500-year-old Sri Guru Ravidas Temple and Samadhi located in Delhi’s Tughlakabad in Delhi.

Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to personally intervene to resolve the tension triggered among the Ravidas community as a result of the recent demolition of the Sri Guru Ravidas Temple and samadhi, located in Tughlakabad village in Delhi, on the orders of the Supreme Court.

The chief minister’s initiative followed state-wide protests by members of the community under the banner of the Guru Ravidas Jayanti Samaroh Samiti, which has called for nationwide bandh on August 13 and announced observing 15th August as a ‘Black Day’.

In Gurdaspur, all government and private schools, falling within the municipal limits of the city, have been ordered to remain shut on Tuesday by Deputy Commissioner Vipul Ujwal.

Capt Amarinder also personally spoke to Union Urban Development Minister Hardeep Singh Puri to seek re-allotment of the same site, which reportedly belongs to the Delhi Development Authority, to enable the community to reconstruct the temple along with the Sarovar, which have been demolished.

Ludhiana affected by state-wide bandh. Demonstrators from Ravidasia community took to streets to protest. Heavy security deployed.

The chief minister said while he did not wish to comment on the Supreme Court judgement, which had led to razing of the religious structure, he was personally not in favour of demolition of monuments or structures of such historical importance, connected with the sentiments of any community.
The chief minister has also appealed to the community to call off their protests as his government was ready to extend its full support to them to get the matter amicably resolved with the Central government.

Protestors have blocked the National Highway at Phagwara, state emerging reports.

Shiromani Akali Dal President Sukhbir Singh Badal held consultations with Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal who assured of resolving the matter.