Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Badal on Sunday said Amritsar MP and senior Congress leader Capt Amarinder Singh was again redefining the meaning of anti-national to suit his political interests in the same manner as he had done after visiting the unofficial headquarters of Khalistan movement at Dixie Gurdwara in Canada in 2005.
Sukhbir, reacting to Capt Amarinder’s statement saying that November 10 congregation was a religious one and not political or anti-national, said that the gathering was definitely not anti-national but all the leaders occupying the stage were.
“It is these radical leaders who controlled the stage in league with the Congress party who are responsible for defaming the congregation by announcing a separatist agenda. This was not liked by a large number of people who even left the venue in disgust,” said Sukhbir.
Asserting that Capt Amarinder should correct his definition of anti-national, SAD president said: “Is the reading out of messages of leaders of banned terrorist organisations religious as you are claimingIJ Is the demand for an independent Sikh State a religious demandIJ Is it religious activity to raise slogans of Khalistan and espouse violence to realise this goalIJ”
Sukhbir asked Capt Amarinder to explain what he meant while claiming that Congress leaders had attended the gathering as “Sikhs”. “If that was so, why did they become party to seditious resolutionsIJ Why didn’t they protest on the spot and walk outIJ” he asked.
SAD president said that contrary to what the Amritsar MP was claiming, the series of events had made the Congress role in organising, supporting and drafting of the resolutions clear.
“You cannot run away from this in the same manner in which you tried to confuse Punjabis after visiting the Dixie Gurdwara in Toronto. Then you claimed you had failed to read the Khalistan Zindabad slogans in the Gurdwara. It is best you apologise for the conduct of your party men and throw them out of the party or else people will have no option but to believe that you also supported the secessionists,” said Sukhbir.