Bathinda: A court in Bathinda has acquitted 11 persons, including Lakha Sidhana, Baba Hardeep Singh Mehraj and Rajwinder Singh Raikhana, in a case related to a protest held in May 2018 for the respect and rightful status of the Punjabi mother tongue.

According to the verdict pronounced by the court of Judge Tarn Kumar, those acquitted in the case include Lakhvir Singh Lakha Sidhana, Baba Hardeep Singh Mehraj, Rajwinder Singh Raikhana, Ramandeep Singh Gumti Kalan, Gurdeep Singh Bhagivandar, Amrik Singh Bhagivandar, Major Singh Kauloke, Sukhdeep Singh Natheha, Chamkaur Singh Kot Fatta, Manpreet Singh Sidhana and Ranjit Singh Phool.

The case was linked to a campaign launched in May 2018 by the Punjabi Maa Boli Satkar Committee Punjab to demand due respect and recognition for the Punjabi language. During the Punjabi Mother Tongue Fortnight, a statewide campaign known as the “Pocha Maru Muhim” was carried out, under which black paint was applied to various signboards.

Appearing for the accused, advocate Harpal Singh Khara argued before the court that raising one’s voice for the respect and rightful place of the Punjabi mother tongue was not a crime. He maintained that those involved in the protest had only raised their voice for their rights and for the honour of their mother tongue.

Following the court’s verdict, Lakha Sidhana thanked his colleagues, the advocate representing them and all those who had supported the movement.

He made a special mention of Rajwinder Singh Raikhana, saying that despite being 75 per cent physically disabled, he had gone to jail along with his fellow activists and continued to stand shoulder to shoulder with them in the struggle for the Punjabi language despite difficult circumstances.

It may be recalled that Punjab Police had registered a case against those involved in the protest at the time and they were subsequently sent to jail.

Lakha Sidhana said Punjabi was not merely a language but an integral part of Punjab’s identity, heritage and culture. He added that the struggle for the respect and rightful status of the Punjabi mother tongue would continue in the future as well.