Congress party’s candidate from Dhuri Simar Partap Singh Barnala on Thursday accused Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal of sabotaging the initiative taken by his grandfather, Surjit Singh Barnala, to restore peace in the troubled State. He claimed that it was because of Badal’s stand that thousands of lives were lost.
launching a scathing attack on Badal, Simra Partap said: “It was you Mr Badal who opposed the signing of Punjab Accord between the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Sant Harchand Singh longowal, that was the first such agreement of its kind ever inked in the country and the same was ratified by the Parliament.”
“You stayed back to sabotage it as you had not been involved in it. It was my grandfather along with Sant longowal who was one of the main architects of the Accord and took all the risks for the sake of Punjab. Sant longowal sacrificed his life in the process,” he said. Simar asserted that later, Badal resorted to his “usual politics of opportunism” and ratified the Accord to get Assembly ticket from Barnala who was the party chief after the assassination of Sant longowal.
He recalled that later, it was Badal who led revolt against Barnala that led to split in Akali Dal legislature Party. “Barnala’s only fault as the Chief Minister was that he was determined to confront secessionist forces which had raised their ugly head in the state at that time,” he said.
Barnala young scion added, “It was Badal who had always stabbed Punjab in the back as his entire politics had been dictated by his vested political interests. His only problem for instigating rebellion against Barnala was that Badal had not been accommodated in the cabinet despite making every effort.”
“Badal also owe an explanation to the people as to why he kept himself away for nine years from the death anniversary function of Sant longowal who sacrificed his life for the unity and integrity of the country and this has been admitted by SAD later in writing,” he said adding that it was Badal’s “lust for power” that forced him to start attending the anniversary functions of Sant longowal who commanded a huge following in his native land.
Describing Badal as the most cunning politician in the history of the Akali Dal, Simar said that he was not committed to any cause and had been shifting his ideological stand depending upon the situation and his personal interests.
SAD WANTS TO JUNK BJP; WOUlD TRY TO WIN BY HOOK OR by CROOK
Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Partap Singh Bajwa on Thursday asserted that the ruling SAD would make efforts to win the seat by “hook or crook” to junk its alliance partners, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
“SAD chief Sukhbir Badal want to win this seat by hook or by crook as his party then would not be dependent on the BJP. He wants to junk the alliance partner after getting majority. However, the people have resolved to frustrate all such designs of his,” said Bajwa.
He said that Dhuri by-election is a “chance” to teach a lesson to the Akali Dal whose leaders had always been selling dreams while situation in the state had been going from bad to worse.
Congress chief also made it clear that the party would not allow any goondaism by the Akali goons on the polling day.
APRIl 11 DEClARED HOlIDAY IN DHURI SEGMENT
Punjab Government has declared April 11 as a paid holiday in Dhuri assembly segment in view of the by-poll scheduled for the day. All shops and commercial establishments situated within Dhuri constituency will remain closed on Saturday.
The factories within the jurisdiction of Sangrur district, in which Dhuri assembly segment falls, will also observe April 11 as a paid holiday. The step has been taken to enable workers to vote in the Dhuri by-election.