When the Congress led Punjab Government invited the former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh as ‘main speaker’ at the special commemorative session to mark Guru Nanak Dev’s 550th birth anniversary, little did the powers-that-be realise that the move would boomerang and virtually leave them red faced.
Referring to the Guru’s teachings, the former Prime Minister indirectly admonished Capt Amarinder Singh led Punjab Government on the issue of drugs, pollution and the women safety in the State.
The rap came in middle of an hour-long session presided over by the Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu, and attended by the Governors, Chief Ministers, Speakers and the MLAs of both Punjab and Haryana.
Dr Manmohan Singh was the main speaker for the commemorative session convened as a part of the Punjab Government’s celebrations of first Sikh Guru’s 550th parkash purab, but the former Prime Minister referred to Guru Nanak’s teachings to virtually criticise the prevailing State of affairs in Punjab.
Also a world-renowned economist, Dr Manmohan Singh minced no words to highlight that Punjab’s youth is hooked to drugs, water and air is becoming poisonous while the womenfolk are disrespected, while underlining that Punjab is being weaned away from the philosophy of our great Guru.
“Today, Punjab's youth is destroyed by drugs, water and air is becoming poisonous, and women are being disrespected. How we will keep the legacy of Guru Nanak Dev ji alive? This is the most crucial question on his 550th birth anniversary,” he asked.
The former Prime Minister appealed to take forward the legacy of Guru Nanak’s message of mutual love and respect to ensure an equitable society. “Guru Nanak Dev’s eternal message of oneness of God, religious tolerance and peace could pave the way to end sectarian violence, which is the biggest challenge facing the world,” he added.
Congress-led Punjab Government, which has completed its half term, has been facing heat, not only from its rivals but its own men, for not acting against the drug mafia, and doing nothing to check the ever growing menace.
The unabated deaths due to drugs overdose have brought lot of disgrace to the ruling party.
And now with the same criticism coming from a person the Congress and the people of Punjab always held in high esteem and projected as the “Sikhs’ pride”, the opposition parties are set to gain political mileage out of it.
Already the Apex Court is taking on the State authorities over the issue of the air pollution due to stubble burning, while the polluted river waters have also hit the headlines in the recent past.
Besides, the drugs issue, which the Congress encashed during 2017 Assembly and 2019 general elections, have now started boomeranging with the party leaders openly speaking against the Government for not acting against the mafia to check the menace.