Activists of the BJP, Hindu Jagran Manch and the Balmiki Sabha blocked the traffic on the Bathinda-Goniana main road protesting against the permission given to a church to hold their religious programme at the official complex of the Additional Deputy Commissioner (D) here today.
The activists alleged that the preachers, who were participating in a conference , were speaking against a particular religion, which had hurt their sentiments. The poor were being offered money to get converted to their religion, they alleged.
The activists said their protest was not against any particular religion but against the forced conversion of the poor of the area by these preachers.
Mr C.K. Bhatti, Secretary, Methodoist Church said it was just a prayer meeting which had been organised by the local church. No one was being forced to get converted to their religion and no one had been offered money, he said.
He pointed out that they were forcibly shifted from the Bhana Mal Trust, where the programme was actually being held, to the office of the Additional Deputy Commissioner (D).
Mr Sukhminder Singh, SDM, when contacted kept mum over the issue. The protestors staged a dharna on the road.
The traffic had to be diverted.
Among the protestors there were many BJP and Hindu Jagran Manch leaders.
Mr Gulzar Singh, district president, BJP who was present on the spot, did not join the protestors.