Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Monday cautioned the people of the State to desist from nefarious designs of divisive forces who were hell bent upon to disturb the hard earned peace, communal harmony, brotherhood and amity.
The five-time Chief Minister minced no words to say that he would not even hesitate to seek apology from the general public if he had committed anything wrong in the larger interest of the state’s peace, prosperity and development.
Badal, addressing a mammoth gathering on the 100th martyrdom anniversary of Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha at his native village during a state-level function, also warned against the conspiracies to push Punjab back towards dark days of violence and bloodshed.
The Chief Minister categorically said that few people, agencies and forces inimical to the peace and prosperity were stoking fire to create an atmosphere of despair, uncertainty and hatred to pursue their personal agenda of opportunism thereby creating a wedge between the people through exploiting their religious sentiments.
Badal warned the people not to be swayed by the false propaganda unleashed by these anti-Punjab elements who had once pushed our state to black days of terrorism for nearly one-and-a-half decade.
He said that peace, earned through unparalleled sacrifices, must be preserved and sought people’s cooperation to resolve all issues through consensus and cooperation.
Training guns at the fissiparous forces who under the guise of Sarbat Khalsa has ruined the Sikh code of ethics (maryada) and religious institutions, Badal said that the way these anti-panthic leaders had undermined the significance of Supreme Akal Takht, Sikh’s Mini Parliament Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) spoke volumes of their arrogance and desperation to meet their narrow vested interests.
Making an oblique reference to some political parties who actively participated in the gathering at Chaba, Badal raised certain doubts over their credentials of being secular.
Paying glorious tribute to Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha on this historic day, Badal said that the real homage to this great martyr would be to take a pledge on this solemn day to further strengthen the bonds of unity, integrity and brotherhood in our country. He also announced to declare November 16 as a gazetted holiday every year in observance of the martyrdom day of Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha.
Badal, later addressing the media persons, categorically said that results of Bihar Assembly polls would have no bearing on the forthcoming state assembly elections of Punjab in 2017.
Chief Minister told that he would soon address several Sadbhawna rallies across the state starting from Bathinda on November 23 followed by Sangat Darshan programmes.