The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Monday urged Punjab Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh not to politicise the Centre’s precautionary move of evacuating border villages.
“Instead, the opposition parties should extend all possible assistance to the Central Government at this critical hour and also help the effected villages in mitigating their problems following escalation on the border,” said SAD’s chief spokesman Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal.
Taking strong exception to Capt Amarinder, Grewal said that attributing political motives to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to build up tension to reap political dividend in UP elections was just “preposterous”.
“This is absurd and outcome of a sick mind to suggest that the Modi’s recent actions aimed at consolidating ‘Hindu votes’ ahead of UP assembly polls,” added Grewal.
“It is unbecoming of a former Chief Minister and former soldier to make unwarranted assertions at a time when the country needed to speak in one voice and our differences, if any, should sink”, said Grewal.
He conceded that the problems faced by the border villagers are enormous during the peace times too which get multiplied whenever tension gets heightened. He assured that the Punjab as well as Union government would take all possible steps to mitigate their problems and urged the opposition parties to assist the Government in this endeavour.