Near-total shutdown in Samana in protest for sacrilege law

Patiala: Samana town in Punjab's Patiala district observed a near-total shutdown on Monday as hundreds of activists and farmers rallied under the banner of the Dharam Yudh Morcha, intensifying their demand for a stringent national law against the desecration of holy scriptures.The agitation gathered renewed momentum as activist Gurjeet Singh Khalsa crossed the 506-day mark of his protest atop a nearly 400-foot telecom tower, where he has been camping since Oct 12-2024. Markets across Samana remained shut, with several trader associations voluntarily closing establishments in solidarity. Flags lined the streets, and large congregations assembled near the protest throughout the day. Organisers described the shutdown as "peaceful but resolute", though visible police presence underscored the administration's concerns over law and order.The morcha's management committee issued an ultimatum to the AAP-led Punjab govt, demanding that the proposed Punjab Prevention of Offences Against Holy Scripture(s) Bill be passed in the forthcoming assembly session. A deadline was set for Samana MLA Chetan Singh Joramajra, who was asked to appear on the morcha stage by Tuesday to clarify the govt's position. Leaders warned that failure to respond would prompt protesters to march to his residence. "If the sentiments of the Sangat are ignored, this movement will spread across Punjab," said morcha coordinator Gurpreet Singh while addressing the gathering. While the Punjab govt introduced a draft bill in mid-2025 proposing life imprisonment for desecration of the Guru Granth Sahib, Bhagavad Gita, Quran and Bible, the legislation has yet to secure final approval. Protest leaders alleged the proposal remained stalled in procedural channels, a charge the govt did not formally respond to. Recent days saw sporadic scuffles between protesters and police. Last week, authorities detained over 200 activists to prevent an attempted blockade, though most were later released.