TARGETS BJP GOVERNMENT FOR NOT RELEASING THE “BANDI SINGHS” AND HANDING OVER MANAGEMENT OF SIKH TAKHTS TO THE RSS
VIKRAM DITYA SHARMA/ZIRA (FEROZEPORE)
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Singh Badal today said certain forces who wanted to weaken the “panth” and “panthic” organizations were trying to disturb the peace of Punjab.
The SAD president, who addressed a massive gathering in support of party candidate Virsa Singh Valtoha in Zira today, appealed to Punjabis to understand that certain agencies were trying to create the same conditions which had led to the destruction of peace and communal brotherhood earlier. He urged people to recognize people who were flaunting panthic credentials but were actually bent on backstabbing the Panth. “The SAD will not let this happen at any cost. I appeal to Punjabis to support their own regional party which is committed to ‘Bhaicharak Sanjh’ and has always stood as a bulwark against divisive forces”, said Sukhbir.
“I appeal to you to support Prof Virsa Singh Valtoha who is the true epitome of panthic conduct and sacrifice. If we do not do this then tomorrow even the Shiromani Committee will not be safe”, he added.
Sukhbir also took on the central government as well as the Congress party on the occasion. He said the BJP led central government had facilitated the RSS to capture the managements of Takth Sri Hazur Sahib and Sri Patna Sahib. He said even the Shiromani Committee was broken to create a separate gurdwara committee against the sentiments of the Sikh community. He said similarly the centre had gone back on its 2019 promise to release the Bandi Singhs which was a cause of angst among Sikhs.
Speaking about the Congress, Sukhbir said that Sikhs can never forget the manner in which former Congress PM Indira Gandhi attacked Sri Darbar Sahib with tanks and mortars on June 1, 1984. “Nor can they (Sikhs) forget how thousands of their brethren were massacred on the streets of Delhi and elsewhere in the country subsequently under a Congress sponsored programme. I am sure they will remember this tumultuous period when they cast their votes on the same day next month”, said Sukhbir
Sukhbir also condemned chief minister Bhagwant Mann for trying to fool Punjabis again with false promises. He said the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government had failed to give Rs 1,000 per month to women and now owed every woman in the State Rs 27,000. “Instead of telling why his government had failed to release this amount to the women he is now promising them Rs 1100 per month”.
Party candidate Virsa Singh Valtoha while speaking on the occasion said the contest in Khadoor Sahib was between forces aligned with Delhi and those who were supporting their own regional party. “While the forces of Delhi want to keep the “Bandi Singhs” incarcerated, the SAD is fighting for their release and will not rest till they are released from captivity”.
Former cabinet minister Janmeja Singh Sekhon also addressed the gathering and appealed to Punjabis to teach the Aam Aadmi Party a befitting lesson by ensuring they don’t win even a single seat in the state as they deceived Punjabis on all fronts.
