Highlighting the achievements of former Prime Minster Dr Manmohan Singh, Punjab Congress on Sunday requested the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Akal Takht jathedar Gianai Gurbachan Singh to bestow Panth Rattan Fakhr-e-Quam on the senior Congress leader during the celebratory function to mark 350th anniversary of Sri Anandpur Sahib.
The party maintained that Dr Singh should be invited as the chief guest for his contribution to the nation, Sikh Community, Punjab and Punjabiyat.
The demand was raised by Punjab’s senior Congress leader and Dera Baba Nanak MlA Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa who has written separate letters to Akal Takht and Chief Minister.
“As you personally are well aware, thus I find no need to define the outstanding contributions and glorious services of Dr Singh in political and economic world. He has brought glory to the Sikh community as he is the first Sikh to become the Prime Minister. Besides, he performed meretriciously in every sphere of life either in the field of education, economics, World Bank top job, finance minister or the Prime Minister,” read Randhawa’s letter.
He pointed that Dr Singh was the person whom successive US Presidents — George W Bush and Barack Obama — consulted to tide over the economic recession. “Despite remaining at top position and leading India by bringing reforms, his honesty, humility is beyond any doubt. Thus, he deserves this title,” he stated in a letter to Akal Takht.
Randhawa, in his letter to Badal, reminded him about Dr Singh’s political contribution at international and national arena, and his contribution towards Punjab.
“Though for political gains, you (Badal) always criticized Dr Singh for meting step-motherly treatment to Punjab, personally you are well aware that it’s Dr Singh, who as Prime Minister, contributed maximum to Punjab by doling funds of several thousands of crores and acceding all your demands either it was Bathinda Refinery, IIT, IIM, Central University or Doubling MPS of wheat and rice in his term at PM’s Office (PMO),” he said.
“The situation has now become crystal clear, because in last one year, NDA has given nothing to Punjab,” he said.