Punjab bandh tomorrow: The call for Punjab bandh on 13 August was given by different Ravidasia community bodies | Photo Credit: PTI

Key Highlights The Ravidassia community is agitated over the demolition of a 500-year-old Guru Ravidas temple in New Delhi The call for Punjab bandh on 13 August was given by different Ravidassia community bodies Punjab has the highest population of Dalits among all states

Chandigarh: Agitated over the demolition of a 500-year-old Guru Ravidas temple in New Delhi, the Ravidassia community has called for Punjab bandh on 13 August 2019 (tomorrow).

The call for Punjab bandh on 13 August was given by different Ravidassia community bodies. Notably, Punjab has the highest population of Dalits among all states.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh had yesterday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene to pacify the tension erupted due to the demolition of Ravidas temple in New Delhi's Tughlaqabad area in accordance with the Supreme Court’s order.

The CM’s appeal came after state-wide protests by members of the Ravidassia community, under the banner of the Guru Ravidas Jayanti Samaroh Samiti.

The Samiti has, meanwhile, called for nation-wide bandh tomorrow. It has also announced to observe August 15 as a Black Day to protest the demolition of the temple.

The Punjab CM has urged the community to call off their protests and vowed to provide full support to them in order to get the matter resolved with the Centre.

Refraining from commenting on the SC order, Amarinder Singh said he was personally not in favour of raxing of structures of historical significance. He added that in view of the "gravity and sensitivity" of the issue, the Central government should take all the necessary steps to restore the site to its original structure.

The Punjab CM also spoke to Union Urban Development Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, seeking re-allotment of the same site, so that the community rebuilds the temple.

On Sunday, the Shiromani Akali Dal accused Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party government of deceiving the Ravidassia community by refusing to intercede on its behalf.

"We had urged the Delhi government to intercede on behalf of the community in the Supreme Court and save the ancient temple from demolition. The Delhi Chief Minister asked us to submit a written submission to buttress our claim. A written submission along with required evidence proving the temple land had been granted to the Ravidassia community by Lodhi dynasty in the 15th century was also submitted to the Delhi government 20 days back," SAD Doaba legislator Pawan Kumar Tinu said.

Notably, the site purportedly belongs to the Delhi Development Authority (DDA). It is believed that the place on which the temple was constructed was paid a visit by Guru Ravidas around the year 1509.

Hours after the Supreme Court ordered to raze Guru Ravidas temple, Dalits had on Saturday carried out protests at several places in Punjab. They blocked National Highway-1 opposite the Shiromani Guru Ravidas Temple, and also protested at Jalandhar, Phagwara, Ludhiana, Gurdaspur and Amritsar.

The protesters were led by Sri Guru Ravidas Sadhu Sampardai Society chairman Sant Mohinder Pal Pandwa.