Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal alleged that under Mr Rahul Gandhi’s leadership the Congress was trying to create the same environment in Punjab that it suffered during the years of m
Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal alleged that under Mr Rahul Gandhi’s leadership the Congress was trying to create the same environment in Punjab that it suffered during the years of militancy.
Dismissing the charges that his party was supporting radical and anti-national forces, Congress leader Capt. Amarinder Singh said Mr Badal was trying to shift the blame onto the Congress to hide his own failures. “We in Congress do not need any lessons on patriotism and nationalism from someone like Sukhbir Badal whose father, chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, still takes pride in having burnt copies of the Constitution of India during the Khalistan movement,” he told reporters here. Describing the Punjab situation as “controlled destablisation by the ruling Akalis which has gone out of control”, he said the Badals were trying to divert public attention after sensing growing disenchantment with the Akali regime.
Referring to the “Sarbat Khalsa”, a religious congregation of the Sikhs, at Amritsar recently, Capt. Singh said the Congress had nothing to do with the “Sarbat Khalsa” and that the two Congress leaders had been present there only in their personal and individual capacities to seek a solution to recent acts of sacrilege in their areas.
The presence of a huge number of people there was an “expression of anger” against the Badal government, and not to support Khalistan as being projected by Badal and Khalistan protagonist Simranjit Singh Mann together, Capt. Singh said.
On Mr Sukhbir Badal’s claim that he had proof of how anti-national resolutions at the Sarbat Khalsa were prepared and passed, he asked what Mr Badal was doing as deputy CM and state home minister. “Why don’t you book us for sedition if you have proof that we are indulging in anti-national activities,” he said, warning Mr Sukhbir Badal against implicating innocent people expressing their resentment against his government. He said people know the truth, that the Akalis have “lost ground”, and that if elections are held today they would be wiped out. “That is why Sukhbir is running to Delhi to spread lies,” he said.
He also questioned the junior Badal on his role as deputy CM and state home minister on claims about anti-national resolutions at the “Sarbat Khalsa”. “Does his responsibility finish at blaming the Congress,” he asked, adding that he should own moral responsibility and resign.
