Massive protest in Phagwara over recovery of beef
More than one thousand gau rakshaks today participated in a large-scale protest march as various factions of Shiv Sena and Hindu organisations came together to express their strong condemnation over the recovery of a large quantity of beef from a cold storage located behind Jyoti Vaishno Dhaba in Chachoki village.
The march, which began at from Shri Hanuman Garhi Temple, saw participation of hundreds of protesters wearing black badges, which passed through Gaushala Bazaar, Saraye Road, Naiyaan Wala Chowk, and the bus stand, before culminating at the originating point.
The event witnessed significant participation from across religious and political lines. Leading the march were several prominent figures including Gurpreet Singh, national president, Sanyukt Gau Raksha; Swami Krishnanand Ji Maharaj, Sarv Gau Seva Dal, Garhshankar; Harkrishan Duggal, president, VHP, Phagwara; Inderjit Karwal, vice president, Shiv Sena, Punjab; Deepak Bhardwaj, president, Hindu Suraksha Samiti Punjab; Shambhu Dutt, president, Gaushala Samiti, Sukhchainan Sahib; and Rakesh Gosai, president, Gaushala Committee, Phagwara, and Sena leader Rajesh Palta.
Also present on the occasion were Kamal Saroj, state press secretary, Shiv Sena UBT; Harsh Bhalla, president, Bajrang Dal, Phagwara; Swami Rishi Raj from Nawanshahr; Swami Gandotri Dass, Mohan Singh Sai and Madan Mohan Bazaz (Gudd) from General Samaj Manch, Yogesh Parbhakar, Neelam Jawaeri (RSS), Tejaswi Bhardwaj, Kulwant Pabbi and Gurjit Walia.
In a noteworthy show of unity, local Sikh and Muslim leaders stood shoulder to shoulder with Hindu organisations during the protest. Among those, who joined the protest were Mayor Ram Paul Uppal, Bittu Nihang, Mohan Singh Sai, Sarwar Gulam Sabha, and Kashif-ur-Rehman. Their presence underscored the communal solidarity felt by the wider population of Phagwara over what is being described as a gross violation of religious sentiments and public morality.
Phagwara SP Rupinder Kaur Bhatti supervised the security arrangements.
Addressing the gathering at Hanuman Garhi Temple, Gurpreet Singh criticised the inaction of the local police. He reiterated his demand to expose the ongoing state-level nexus among criminals-politicians and the civil and the police administration. He expressed dissatisfaction over the failure to arrest Manjit Singh, the alleged owner of the cold storage and the associated restaurant where beef was found. Calling the incident an attack on the values of Sanatan Dharma, Gurpreet Singh warned the administration of a large-scale protest movement across Punjab if immediate arrests and legal action was not taken in this connection. He announced that a state-level meeting of all Hindu leaders and Gau Raksha volunteers would be convened at Hanuman Garhi Temple on August 10 to chalk out next course of action. He made it clear that if no concrete progress was visible, a statewide agitation was inevitable.
The protest, while emotionally charged, remained peaceful and well-organised. It sent a strong message to the authorities about the united stand of Phagwara’s residents, cutting across community lines. Locals described the protest not only an expression of outrage over the beef recovery, but also as a reaffirmation of communal harmony, with Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims coming together to demand accountability and justice.
As the city awaits action from the authorities, all eyes are now set on the upcoming August 10 meeting, which is likely to shape the direction of any future agitation. The unified stand witnessed today indicates that the issue has transcended religious boundaries and become a larger symbol of civic resistance and social cohesion in the region.
Jalandhar