A day after Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal accused the Congress of playing a “big role” behind “Sarbat Khalsa” on November 10, the ruling SAD on Saturday asked Rahul Gandhi to take action against its party members for “masterminding and giving directions” in organising the congregation.
During a Press conference, the SAD leaders also played conversation transcripts purportedly of certain Congress leaders allegedly in conversation with a senior leader of Sikh hardline group United Akali Dal, and assuring him to mobilise crowd for the congregation.
Punjab Education Minister and senior SAD leader Daljit Singh Cheema said, “Congress party’s senior leaders participated and masterminded holding of the Sarbat Khalsa on November 10. They gave directions in the congregation for passing the resolutions and bringing people.”
“We demand from Rahul Gandhi what action he will take against his party leaders who are hell bent upon disturbing peace and communal harmony in the state,” he said, while addressing a Press conference.
When asked from where this transcript was sourced, Cheema said this purported transcript was available on social media, and denied that the phones had been tapped by the Government. “This recording is available on social media,” he said, adding that the State Government could get it verified, if the need arose. “let them first deny that this is not their voice,” the Akali leader said.
“The people of Punjab and the country have for long been of the view that senior Congress leaders had hatched the conspiracy in the eighties and nineties to push Punjab into the throes of death and destruction. The proceedings at the November 10 function at Chabba were merely a replay of the devious conspiracies of the Congress party which resulted in the loss of thousands of innocent lives in Punjab,” the SAD told the Congress High Command.
Cheema also wanted Rahul Gandhi to explain if he intends to thank Wadhawa Singh, the chief of Babbar Khalsa International based in Pakistan, for the latter’s message of congratulations to all those who participated in the Chabba function.
“Senior and elected representatives of the Congress, holding responsible positions in the organisation, were not merely a party to the planning, organisation and conduct of the function at the November 10 function, but also brazenly attended the same and even delivered speeches endorsing the proceedings from the stage, including the demand for the implementation of the Panthic Committee Resolutions of January 26, 1986. The Congress must explain to the people of Punjab and the country not only whether it supports that demand raised on November 10 but also its role behind the passage of the January 26, 1986 resolution,” Cheema said.
The Akali leader said the people of Punjab were already aware that the entire tragedy of Punjab in the 1980s and 1990s had been scripted and masterminded by the Congress. “The Congress hand is soaked in the blood of thousands of innocent Sikh youth and countless other innocent Punjabis.
Cheema also warned Punjab Congress president Partap Singh Bajwa not to play with fire. He said the PCC chief should not try to absolve his party men — Ramanjit Sikki, Inderjit Zira, lalli Majithia and Harminder Gill of the crime they had committed by forming an alliance with former terrorists. “You should not try to shield your party men —lalli Majithia and Harminder Gill who made phone calls to separatist leaders on the day of the so called Sarbat Khalsa to incite trouble besides pledging to send thousands to the function. The party said it would not allow radicals to head Sikh institutions at any cost.