Public agitation in Punjab against the Himachal Pradesh entry tax got shot in the arm, after the Kar Sewa sect of Kila Anandgarh Sahib in Anandpur Sahib extended its support to the agitation. The head of Kila Anandgarh Sahib, Baba Satnam Singh, issued a statement backing the movement, terming the entry tax ‘illegal’ and alleging that it unfairly targets pilgrims visiting Anandpur Sahib. His endorsement gave a significant boost to the ongoing protests.
Hundreds of protesters representing Punjab Morcha, Kirti Kisan Morcha, Bharatiya Kisan Union Bahiram Ke, Azad Taxi Union, and several transport bodies blocked two crucial state highways to Himachal from Ropar including Panjehra Road and Dabbota Road, connecting Nalagarh area of Solan district of Himachal, for nearly two and a half hours.
Despite heavy rainfall, demonstrators remained resolute, raising slogans against the Himachal Pradesh government led by CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh. Protest leaders described the current agitation as merely a “trailer,” warning that a much larger and more intense movement is imminent.
The protesters announced that after midnight on March 31, all entry points between Punjab and Himachal Pradesh could face an indefinite blockade. The routes likely to be impacted include the Kiratpur Sahib–Manali National Highway, the Ghanouli–Bharatgarh road, along with 11 entry points in Ropar district and as many as 33 across Punjab.
Leaders made it clear that there was no scope for compromise, demanding the immediate removal of toll barriers imposed by the Himachal government. They also called upon the Punjab government to clarify its stand, pointing out that the matter of reciprocal tax on Himachal vehicles remains unresolved.
Prominent figures present at the protest today included Punjab Morcha convener Gaurav Rana, Kirti Kisan Morcha president Harpreet Singh Bhatto, BKU Bahiram Ke leader Avtar Singh, Karnevir Singh Sonu, Prince Badal, Advocate Vishal Saini, Jawahar Singh Malli, Rinku Kumar, Pargat Singh Ghanouli, Balveer Singh Munne, Pritam Singh Raipur, Lachhman Singh Khedi, Subedar Roshan Lal and Neeraj Rana.
The traffic blockade on said roads was lifted after, the local administration, led by Tehsildar Sandeep Kumar and Station House Officer Jatin Kapoor, reached the protest site. Officials accepted a memorandum from the agitators and assured them that their demands would be forwarded to higher authorities. Although the blockade was lifted following this assurance, it took nearly four hours for normal traffic movement to resume.
Local residents of Bharatgarh and surrounding villages extended full support to the protest, helping maintain order and ensuring that the agitation remained peaceful.
Meanwhile, the agitation is set to widen further.
Rinku Kumar, District President of the Pathankot Taxi Union, announced that on April 1, key routes including Pathankot–Dalhousie and Chamba–Dharamsala highways would also be completely blocked, signalling a possible escalation of the inter-state dispute in the coming days