symbolic “Khalsa tax” imposed by Nihang Singhs on vehicles from Himachal Pradesh has sparked a political storm in Punjab, with opposition leaders accusing the Punjab government of failing to resolve the long-running dispute over the Himachal entry tax.
The controversy erupted after a group of Nihang Singhs on Wednesday collected an unspecified voluntary contribution from Himachal-registered vehicles for about an hour on the Kiratpur Sahib-Manali National Highway.
The move was described by the Nihangs as a symbolic protest against the Himachal Pradesh government’s entry tax, which was increased to Rs 100 from April 1 this year.
The protest has generated widespread debate on social media and triggered reactions from political leaders across party lines, although ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders largely avoided direct criticism of either government.
Former Punjab Youth Congress president Barinder Dhillon said the development reflected a growing sense of frustration among people affected by the tax.
“Punjab is entering a state of anarchy. People are being forced into actions like imposing a Khalsa Tax because the government has failed to resolve the issue,” Dhillon said while speaking to The Tribune.
He said that residents of Punjab had been protesting against the Himachal entry tax for more than three months and argued that the Punjab government should have taken up the matter with the Himachal government to secure its withdrawal.
“Since the government chose to remain silent, people have started taking the law into their own hands,” he added.
Punjab BJP vice-president Subhash Sharma reiterated his party’s opposition to the entry tax, describing it as illegal and unjustified. Sharma said BJP leaders in Himachal Pradesh had already stated that the tax would be abolished if the party returned to power in the state.
“The AAP government in Punjab and the Congress government in Himachal have allowed the issue to escalate and create tension among people of both states, which is unfortunate,” Sharma said.
Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains struck a more conciliatory note, expressing hope that the dispute would be resolved through dialogue.
He said that, according to his knowledge, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu had already discussed the issue.
“I hope the matter will be resolved soon,” Bains said.
AAP MLA from Ropar Dinesh Chadha, who had earlier raised the issue in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha and participated in protests against the entry tax, maintained that his stand remained unchanged.
“As a local MLA, I have opposed the unjustified entry tax imposed by Himachal Pradesh. I hope both governments will arrive at a solution soon,” Chadha said.
Meanwhile, the Nihang Singhs have issued a 10-day ultimatum to the Punjab and Himachal governments to settle the dispute. They warned that if no resolution is reached, they would permanently impose the so-called “Khalsa Tax” on Himachal-registered vehicles until the entry tax is withdrawn.
Punjab Sangarsh Morcha Convener Gaurav Rana claimed that the Nihang-led “Khalsa Tax” campaign had exposed the growing public anger against the entry tax and rattled the Sukhu government.
Rana alleged that the Himachal government had ignored public objections for months but was forced to respond after the symbolic campaign attracted widespread attention.
Rana also questioned delays in implementing a proposed reciprocal tax policy by the Punjab government and suggested that prolonged inaction had created doubts among the public regarding the political handling of the matter