Senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and former deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on Tuesday made a fervent appeal to the people of Punjab to rebond with the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) even as he vowed that he was ready to sacrifice his life for the Panth as well as peace and progress of Punjab.
Addressing a gathering at the Maghi Mela here, Badal urged the people to again repose their trust in the SAD in the same manner as the 40 Mukta had been welcomed back into the fold at this historic site. “Today the need of the hour is to strengthen our ‘kaum’ and the SAD alone can do this. I vow to you that like S Parkash Singh Badal I will do everything in my capacity for the welfare of the people. Even if I have to sacrifice myself I will do so for the sake of Punjab, Punjabiyat and the Khalsa Panth", he said.
In an emotive speech, Badal cautioned the Panth and Punjab against the politics of communal divisiveness and bloodshed of Punjabi youth and asserted he would never flinch from the path of peace and communal harmony shown by the great gurus, saints and seers. He asserted he had already owned full responsibility on behalf of the party so that the people of the state could move forward into a future full of hope, peace and prosperity for our youth. “The alternative agenda being offered by some so-called Panthic outfits is to push the state, especially its youth back into the jaws of fratricidal bloodshed and elimination of Sikh youth in fake encounters", he said.
He also made it clear that the leader of a faction which was opening its political shop today had launched a campaign against drugs but his own family member was caught with drugs. “They have also indulged in murders in their area. They want to instigate the youth and foment trouble to meet their own ends. We want to save the future generation, not put it in peril”, he added. Badal also appealed to the people that in case his father had committed any mistake he was ready to even own that. Asserting that he was speaking to his family and not an audience, the Akali leader said a concerted attack had been launched against S Parkash Singh Badal and after the latter’s demise against him. “The aim was simple - to finish the SAD and the Badal family”. Asking the people to tell if the former chief minister who had served them for seventy years had committed any sin.
Badal in his speech also detailed how he had decided to take the onus for all the perceived wrong doings against him by the rebel Akali group even though he had answers for everything. “My thought process was that if this can put a lid to the campaign unleashed against the SAD by the anti-panthic forces so be it. But these forces were not happy by this submission also. Their next target was to kill me and I was saved only by the grace of the almighty, he said”.
The conference also passed a resolution appealing to the Sri Akal Takht Jathedar to reconsider the Takht’s decision to take back the Fakhr-e-Quam title bestowed on S Parkash Singh Badal. Senior leader Hira Singh Gabria moved this resolution which was passed by the entire audience.
