Although the Chief Ministers of both the states have tried to reduce this tension by talking to each other and the main government agencies of both the states are also in touch with each other, still some people of both the states are feeling suspicious towards each other.
Punjab has the honor of being the land of five rivers, at present two main rivers Sutlej and Beas flow in Punjab, which come to Punjab from Himachal Pradesh. Therefore, as much as these rivers are sacred for Punjab, they are also sacred for Himachal Pradesh. These rivers have their own dignity and culture. These rivers seek the good of everyone. For this reason, the same culture is expected from the people of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh living around these rivers. However, for the last few days, due to some mischievous elements, tension has arisen between the people of both the states. This tension is said to have started from the Manikaran Valley of Himachal. According to media reports, a hotel owner in Kullu removed the flags of Sant Bhindranwale on the motorcycles of Sikh and Punjabi youths who had gone to Manikaran Sahib from Punjab and trampled them underfoot. The Himachal Pradesh police remained a silent spectator on this occasion. This is believed to be the beginning of this tension. This is not the first time that Sikhs and Punjabis who had gone from Punjab have been harassed in Himachal Pradesh, but there are reports of such incidents every year. Which also has reactions in Punjab, like the incident that happened with Sikh youth in Kullu, Himachal Pradesh, has had reactions in Punjab and pictures of Sant Bhindranwale were put on buses from Himachal Pradesh in Punjab and provocative slogans were also written on some buses from Himachal Pradesh by vandalizing them in Amritsar, after which the government bus service between the two states was stopped, due to which only the common people are getting disturbed, while private bus owners are charging arbitrary fare from the people traveling between Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. Due to this, this tension is increasing instead of decreasing.
A large number of Sikhs from Punjab often go to visit the Gurdwaras located in Himachal Pradesh. Apart from this, a large number of Punjabis also go to Himachal Pradesh for sightseeing, due to which the economy of Himachal Pradesh is strong and the employment and business of the natives there is good, but despite this, for some time now, unfortunate incidents have been happening in Himachal Pradesh targeting Punjabis, especially Sikhs, due to which it is natural to spread resentment among the Sikhs. Jathedar Sri Akal Takht Sahib Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargajj has said that India is a multi-religious and multilingual country, in which everyone has religious freedom. He has said that Sant Jarnail Singh Khalsa Bhindranwale is the national martyr and hero of the Sikhs, who has been declared a martyr by Sri Akal Takht Sahib, the highest seat of the Sikh community. He has said that Sikhs go to Himachal Pradesh to visit their shrines, but the Nishan Sahib and pictures of Sikh martyrs are being forcibly removed from their vehicles by stopping the devotees. It is a matter of regret that the police administration is not fulfilling its due responsibility on this matter but is fuelling the atmosphere of hatred being created against the Sikhs.
MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal has raised the issue in the Lok Sabha that when there is excess water in Himachal Pradesh, it is released to Punjab, due to which Punjab is submerged due to floods and Haryana clearly refuses to take this water but when there is less water in Himachal Pradesh, Haryana raises the issue of SYL canal. In this way, both these states are pushing Punjab.
What is needed is that the bonds of brotherhood between Punjab and Himachal Pradesh should be further strengthened and the culture of the land of the Sutlej and Beas rivers should be kept alive. The Himachal Pradesh government should take strict action against the mischievous elements who are harassing the Sikhs of Punjab coming to Himachal Pradesh from Punjab and special efforts should be made for the safety of Sikhs in Himachal Pradesh. The managers of Sikh pilgrimage sites in Himachal Pradesh should also talk to the administration and government at their level for the safety of Sikhs so that this tension can be ended.
