A sea of people, including Nihangs, women, men and youngsters, gathered at Takht Damdama Sahib in Talwandi Sabo on Jattvibeday to attend the bhog ceremony of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota, who was shot dead during a confrontation at a chemist shop in Mansa over the alleged sale of addictive drugs.Although politicians were not allowed to address the gathering, the drug menace remained the central theme of the event.The hall on the Takht Sahib premises remained packed, while many people gathered outside due to a shortage of space. Jhota’s two sons, dressed in traditional blue Sikh attire, were present and were seen chanting ‘Satnam Waheguru’.They had appealed to people through a video message on Saturday to attend their father’s bhog.Photos of Jhota were displayed at shops outside the hall, while banners carrying his thoughts were put up and T-shirts bearing his photo were distributed among the public. A sapling distribution camp and a blood donation camp were also organised.During the ‘ardas’, acting Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj described drugs as the “sixth river” flowing through Punjab and said the menace was destroying the state’s youth. He said Gurbani guided people away from intoxicants and urged the government to take effective steps to stop drug trafficking.“The responsibility to wipe out drugs rests with the state government, while the public is already extending its support. The government has failed on this front,” he said. He also prayed for peace for the departed soul and strength for the bereaved family.Jhota’s father Bhim Singh thanked Gargaj, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), and all those who had supported the family and remained at the protest site since October 13. The protest was called off on November 8 after the cremation of Jhota.Addressing the gathering, he said the large turnout reflected public anger and support for his son. He described the gathering as a victory of truth over falsehood.Earlier, Bhim criticised the state government, calling it “blind, deaf and mute”. He questioned the government over the promises made to the family and appealed to people to hold the ruling party accountable in the next Assembly elections.Several political and religious personalities attended the ceremony, including Gargaj, Takht Damdama Sahib Jathedar Tek Singh Khalsa, Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De) leaders Manpreet Singh Ayali and Tarsem Singh, father of incarcerated Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh, AAP chief whip and Talwandi Sabo MLA Baljinder Kaur, veteran SAD leader Balwinder Singh Bhunder, BJP leader Jagdeep Nakai, SAD (Amritsar) president Simranjit Singh Mann, Congress leader Bikram Singh Mofar, SAD leader Ravipreet Singh Sidhu, Lakha Sidhana and Mandeep Sidhu, brother of late actor Deep SidhuActivist Mohanjit Sheron was earlier allegedly stopped from attending the ceremony.Gargaj and Tek Singh Khalsa honoured Jhota’s two sons with turbans. Simranjit Mann also honoured the family, while representatives of the Damdami Taksal and Kalgidhar Trust, Baru Sahib, presented turbans to the boys.Ayali says party will speak to Jhota’s family on contesting electionManpreet Ayali said his party would continue to stand with the family. Asked whether a member of Jhota’s family could contest the Assembly elections, he said it was not the occasion to discuss politics. “We will speak to the family later and take a decision accordingly,” he said.Hawara’s message read outGurcharan Singh, foster father of Jagtar Singh Hawara, convict in the assassination of former Chief Minister Beant Singh, read out the latter’s written message received from Mandoli Jail in Delhi.“…Thousands of youths have risen like Parvinder Singh Jhota against the drug menace. People should boycott political parties that merely indulge in politics over the drug issue but do nothing on the ground. Farmers, students, labourers and religious organisations should come together on a common platform and launch a movement to save Punjab’s youth. If we unite, Punjab can become drug-free. Let us create a new chapter in history,” the message read.It also carried tributes on behalf of all the Bandi Singhs (Sikh prisoners).