A group of Nihang Sikhs on Wednesday imposed a symbolic ‘Khalsa tax’ on vehicles registered in Himachal Pradesh entering Punjab through the Kiratpur Sahib-Manali highway. The move was aimed at protesting what they described as Himachal Pradesh’s entry tax on vehicles coming from outside the state.

The protest was led by Nihang leader Achhar Singh. The group set up a temporary checkpoint near an NHAI toll plaza on the highway and collected the tax for more than an hour. According to the protesters, the exercise was symbolic and intended to draw attention to the issue.

Speaking to reporters, Singh said the group did not force anyone to make payments. He appealed to commuters travelling in Himachal Pradesh-registered vehicles entering Punjab to voluntarily contribute any amount starting from Rs 10 as ‘Khalsa tax’.

"It was a symbolic protest against the tax levied on out-of-state vehicles entering HP," he said.

The Nihang leader questioned the purpose of the entry tax collected in Himachal Pradesh and alleged that private individuals were involved in collecting it.

"We want to ask the Himachal government where this money goes, which private individuals collect. It is like a 'Jaziya tax' collected during the Mughal period. We are protesting the unfair burden on transporters and travellers being imposed through its entry tax system in HP," he alleged.

Singh further said that the money collected through the symbolic ‘Khalsa tax’ would be used for the welfare of poor people.

He also issued a warning regarding future protests. According to Singh, the group informed police officials in Kiratpur to convey their message to the authorities. He said that if the entry tax imposed on non-Himachal Pradesh vehicles is not withdrawn, the Nihang Sikhs would begin collecting the ‘Khalsa tax’ on a permanent basis.

The symbolic protest drew attention to the ongoing disagreement over the entry tax system in Himachal Pradesh. The protesters argued that the levy places an unnecessary burden on travellers and transporters entering the hill state from outside regions.