JALANDHAR: The Punjab Congress is not only trying to put ruling Shiromani Akali Dal in the dock over the honouring of Beant Singh’s assassin Dilawar Singh’s family at Akal Takht but has also criticized the Sikh clergy.
PPCC spokesperson Nimisha Mehta said, “The honouring of the family members of Dilawar Singh the head priest Jagtar Singh has once again brought back the dreaded memories of the black days of terrorism seen by Punjab.”
Attacking the Sikh clergy, she said that the act of Jagtar Singh honouring murderers of Beant Singh amount to humiliation of the sacrifices made by those in curbing the terrorism and restoring peace to the state. “When SAD is controlling the SGPC it is clear that the ruling party is behind the entire programme that was staged at Darbar Sahib,” she said.
“Also, the decision of the clergy and Sikh leadership to put up the picture of the assassin in the Sikh Ajaib Ghar is absolutely wrong and unjustified. These kinds of acts will do nothing but once again sprinkle salt and scrap to the wounds of those who have suffered during the widespread terrorism in the state,” she said.
While assailing Sikh clergy and Akali leadership, Mehta also sought to play up the Hindu card saying, “The ruling Shiromani Akali Dal intends to scare the Hindu community of the state by creating an atmosphere is terror.”
“If chief minister Parkash Singh Badal is actually determined to maintain a peaceful and cordial environment for the Hindu community in the state, then he should issue a written appeal to the SGPC asking the Sikh body to stop holding such functions,” she said.
“Also the deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal should clarify his stand on honouring the assassin by SGPC as the latter is completely controlled by SAD,” she argued.
Source: TOI