The ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Tuesday said that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had taken a lead over the Congress in taking up anti-Sikh and anti-Punjabi stands. “This has been proved by its virulent opposition to the Sikh community’s demand for amendment of the Gurdwaras Act to deny voting rights to Sehajdharis which had been passed by the lok Sabha, yesterday,” said SAD secretary general Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa.
He said that it was unfortunate that Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann had made a public spectacle of himself by running to the well of the House to appeal to the chairperson to allow leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge to speak on the issue.
“AAP MP was also seen coordinating opposition to the amendment bill with Congress MPs from Punjab,” he said.
“It is ironic that AAP, which is misleading Punjabis by stating that they had a separate vision for the State, are copying the Congress and has become a carbon copy of the latter…AAP has adopted the anti- Sikh stance of the Congress and is also now part of the extended Congress team,” he added.
Meanwhile, condemning AAP for acting like a stooge of the Congress and coordinating floor management with the party in parliament besides coordinated disruptions and even walk outs, Dhindsa said that AAP should understand that the amendment had been passed following a widespread demand in its favour which was reflected by the SAD in parliament.
He said that by following such a policy, AAP was not only opposing the SAD but acting against the interests of the Sikh community. “You will have to tell the Sikh community why you entered into a conspiracy with the Congress to induct outsiders to wrest control of the management committee of Sikh affairs”.