Punjab Congress president Partap Singh Bajwa on Friday asked the CM Parkash Singh Badal to return “Panth Rattan” award conferred upon him. He also sought the resignation of Badal and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Avtar Singh Makkar.
“Badal must return the Panth Rattan award and tender his resignation immediately. Avtar Singh Makkar should also step down,” he said. Badal, the five-time Chief Minister
of Punjab, was conferred the Panth Rattan award in December 2011 by the Akal Takht, Sikhs’ highest temporal seat, for his services to the Sikhism.
Bajwa added that Badal had failed to protect interests of Punjab, minority community, farmers and other sections.