Government’s Compulsion Behind Plans

District’s Geographical and Cultural Identity Must Remain Intact
Hoshiarpur/Daljeet Ajnoha/Oct.16 : Senior Shiromani Akali Dal leader and former cabinet minister Sohan Singh Thandal has strongly condemned the alleged attempts to further reduce the size of Hoshiarpur district. In an exclusive interaction, Thandal accused the Aam Aadmi Party government of pursuing political interests under the guise of creating new districts.He said that while there is no objection to the government forming new districts or renaming existing ones, any move to carve out portions of Hoshiarpur to form new districts will never be tolerated by the people of the region. “If the government takes any such step, it will face a strong and fitting resistance,” he warned.Highlighting the historical and cultural significance of the district, Thandal said Hoshiarpur is nearly 175 years old, uniquely situated along the foothills of Himachal Pradesh, and known for its distinct geographical and cultural identity. Once stretching between the Beas and Sutlej rivers, Hoshiarpur has repeatedly lost territory through successive administrative reorganizations.He recalled that during the 1966 reorganization of Punjab, the Una tehsil was separated from Hoshiarpur, followed by the detachment of the Balachaur region when the Nawanshahr district was created. “Now, once again, the government seems intent on diminishing the district’s extent, upsetting the local population deeply,” he added.Reaffirming the community’s determination, Thandal declared that the people of Hoshiarpur will fight tooth and nail to preserve the district’s geographical and cultural heritage, even if sacrifices are required. He cautioned the government not to detach any part of Hoshiarpur in the name of creating a new district.