Dal Khalsa leader held for defacing signboards on highway

BATHINDA: Accused for damaging public property by defacing signboards on the Bathinda-Amritsar national highway, Dal Khalsa vice-president

Hardeep Singh Mehraj

surrendered to the police on Wednesday.

Earlier on Tuesday evening the police had arrested Lakhbir Singh Lakha Sidhana, who was also booked in the same case. Two cases were registered for defacing public property at Nehiawala police station and Bathinda Thermal Plant police station on October 21 against Hardeep and Lakha.

On October 20, workers of

Malwa Youth Federation

led by Sidhana and Dal Khalsa led by Hardeep and activists of farmer organisation BKU (Krantikari) had defaced many signboards and demanded that all signage on national highway should have Punjabi as the top language in the state.

Patiala MP Dr

Dharamvira Gandhi

said, “Arresting anyone for raising voice for Punjabi language in the state is condemnable. The government should desist from taking such steps.”

Former AAP member Jiwanjot Kaur said, “Demanding promotion of Punjabi language in Punjab must not be a crime. By arresting those who raised their voice for the mother language is meting out injustice to Punjabis.”