Slamming lok Sabha MP Captain Amarinder Singh for supporting the formation of separate Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee in Haryana, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Saturday said the former Chief Minister was not aware of the glorious history of supreme sacrifices made by the Sikhs for the constitution of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) during the British Raj.
Talking to reporters here, the Chief Minister said that all those people who were supporting this sinister move of the Haryana Congress Government to constitute the separate body for Gurudwara management in the State were unaware about the Gurudwara Act passed by the Indian Parliament.
He said that even the Sikhs of Haryana were against this politically motivated move of Haryana Congress Government due to which the Shiromani Akali Dal had swept all the seats in Haryana during SGPC elections.
Badal said that any political leader who has even little respect for the panth should refrain from issuing statement on this issue, which could make irreparable damage to the SGPC.
On a query regarding Punjabis trapped in Iraq, the Chief Minister said that the State Government was committed for ensuring the safe and prompt release of all these Punjabis back to their motherland.
Badal said that he was constantly in touch with the Union External Ministry over this issue and no stone would be left unturned to ensure that these sons of the soil return back to their homes safely. He said that the State Government has also offered to bear the entire expenditure of bringing these Punjabis, stuck up in Iraq, back to their motherland.
On weak monsoon this year, the Chief Minister said that the Government has no control over this. However, Badal said that in order to ensure regular supply of power to the farmers in the ongoing paddy season, he had already directed the PSPCl to ensure 8 hours of minimum regular power supply to them.
Asked about the performance of Narendra Modi led Government at the Centre in the last one month, the Chief Minister said that it was too early to comment on this issue. He said that it takes some time for every Government to restore the things in order adding that one month’s time was too short to judge any Government’s performance.
He reiterated the commitment of the State Government to eradicate the menace of drugs from Punjab, saying the State Government has already declared a war against drugs to make Punjab a drug-free State. likewise, he said that the State Government was also making special efforts for drug de-addiction and rehabilitation of the drug addicts in the State for which 22 rehabilitation centres would be soon opened across the State.