Protests on in Punjab over desecration of holy book

Roiled by desecration of their holy book, Sikhs continued to hold protest in several parts of Punjab blocking key roads, even as chief minister Parkash Singh Badal today sought to assuage the community saying divisive forces bent on disrupting the peace will be exposed.
The protest also spread to Jammu and Kashmir as Sikhs held protests in Srinagar and Jammu cities. In Jammu, a large number of Sikhs held the protest march.
Two fresh incidents of alleged desecration of Sikh holy book came to light yesterday in Tarn Taran and Ferozepur districts, leading to tension in both areas.
In Punjab, the protesters blocked roads traffic at national and state highways at various places, crippling traffic movement and causing inconvenience to commuters and keeping security personnel on their toes to prevent any untoward incident.

Public transport was also hit because of the protest as people as well as private buses remained off the road at several parts.
Lahore-bound India-Pakistan international bus coming from New Delhi had to be diverted through Phillaur, Noormahal, Nakodar to Kartarpur in the wake of protest.

Facing ire from several quarters, Chief Minister Badal said the "fissiparous forces" which are "hell bent" upon destroying hard earned peace in the state would be exposed before the people.
During his visit to Golden Temple in Amritsar, Badal called upon people to uphold the ethos of peace and brotherhood in the state, asserting the state government was committed to thwart any such attempt which could pose a danger to the progress and prosperity of the state.

The protests were held at various places including Moga, Bathinda, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Ferozep and Phagwara.
In Moga, protesters blocked road traffic at Moga-Barnala Road, Moga-Ludhiana national highway, Moga -Kotkapura, Moga-Ferozepur and Moga-Amritsar.
Shops and commercial establishments also remained closed at a few places in the state while a large number of youths could be seen requesting shop owners to shut down their shutters.
On October 14, two persons were killed in alleged police action during protest over the issue.
Meanwhile, senior Congress leader Amarinder Singh today asked the Punjab CM to resign, while seeking imposition of President's rule, in the wake of "complete collapse" of law and order besides social and economic unrest in the state.

"The way things are going on right now, we will be heading for anarchy," he told reporters after visiting the families of those killed in police firing in Faridkot.