Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal on Friday directed the State Police to withdraw all cases registered against the people protesting against the desecration of Guru Granth Sahib during the last one week.
The sentiments expressed by the protestors were the “result of extreme provocation” and the Government was with them on this issue, he said.
My sentiments have also been deeply outraged by the desecration, and I can understand the actions of the people,” said Sukhbir.
Sikh groups had protested the desecration of the Sikh holy book. At least two people were killed and nearly 70 injured, including police officials, on Wednesday in clashes between the police and the Sikhs near Kotkapura town in Faridkot district.
Sukhbir, who also holds the home portfolio, said that he had directed the Punjab Police to withdraw all cases registered against protestors at Kotkapura and Behbal Kalan, both in Faridkot, and anywhere else in the State.
“My conscience does not allow me to spoil the future of any youngster who has reacted in a charged manner after hearing of the desecration of the Guru Granth Sahib,” said Sukhbir, who had already announced a reward of Rs one crore to anyone giving information about those who desecrated the holy book.
In an appeal to Punjabis to maintain peace and communal harmony, he said: “There are some forces who would like to disturb peace in Punjab. We must not let such people succeed in their nefarious designs.”
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has also ordered a judicial probe into the desecration of the Sikh holy book and the violence.
Akal Takht asks SGPC to probe sacrilege incident
Amritsar: Sikhs’ highest temporal seat, Akal Takht, on Friday directed the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) to hold a probe into the alleged sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib in a village in Faridkot district recently.
Akal Takht chief Gurbachan Singh has also asked the SGPC to ensure financial help to the families of the two persons who died and others who were injured in the police action at Behbal Kalan and Kotkapura during protests earlier this week.
Issuing the directions, the Akal Takht chief asked the SGPC to take up the matter with the State Government to get arrested those responsible for the sacrilege.
The SGPC’s probe would be conducted parallel to the Punjab Government’s judicial commission headed by Justice (retd) Zora Singh of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, set up to probe the sacrilege incident as well as the incident of firing at Kotkapura in Faridkot two days back, besides looking into the matter of firing at village Behbal district Faridkot, which led to the death of two persons.
Commenting on the whole episode of sacrilege and the subsequent protests, he said that the police had been informed well in time but it remained reluctant in taking action as a result of which the situation slipped out control and “sentiments of Sikh community were hurt by and large”.
Condemning the police action against protesters, he said that the policemen, who fired at and cane charged “innocent” Sikhs, should be dismissed from service forthwith criminal cases should be registered against them.
He demanded unconditional release of all arrested Sikhs immediately. SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar endorsed the Akal Takht's demands.
‘book culprits of Granth Sahib sacrilege for sedition’
Chandigarh: BJP on Friday demanded that the police should act swiftly, identify the culprits of sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib and book them for sedition besides imposing sections regarding hurting religious sentiments.
Terming incidents of sacrilege of the holy book in Faridkot and Sangrur as “unfortunate”, BJP national secretary Tarun Chugh said that it was “an inhuman act directed towards vitiating the atmosphere in the State”.
“People who thought of such act and brazenly implemented their impious deeds need to be dealt with an iron hand,” he said adding that nobody could be allowed to play with the sentiments of the people and with the peace and communal harmony in the state. Chugh said that investigation in the matter must be completed in a time bound manner and culprits, whosoever, they may be, given severe and exemplary punishment for their sin.
Charging political parties not to politicise this sensitive issue, Chugh appealed Punjabis to maintain peace and communal harmony so that the atmosphere of the state does not suffer due to the madness of some people who were neither religious nor Punjabis in nature.