Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Saturday described the incidents of violence and communal flare up in Patiala as a “matter of grave concern and anxiety” and said that these were the direct outcome of “the utter administrative incompetence and reckless political opportunism” which have become the hallmarks of the present rulers in the state.
“In a matter of just a few weeks, they have undone the fruit of decades of sacrifices of Punjabis for peace and communal harmony and brought the state to the edge of a dangerous communal precipice. This is the direct outcome of the politics of confrontation and communal hatred that AAP has been practising in Punjab in recent years,” Badal said in a statement here.
The Akali president asked the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to understand the gravity of the situation and to shun the politics of mindless sensationalism, cheap theatrics and address the issues of the state and its people with a sober and responsible approach to governance. Badal reminded CM Mann that the Punjab tragedy of the 1980s and 90’s had been caused by the reckless opportunism of some “non-Punjabi politicians trying to control Punjab from Delhi. “You must be watchful that history does not repeat itself here". Badal also asked the AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal and his team to understand that a sensitive border state like Punjab cannot afford their “ambitious opportunism and adventurism.”
Badal appealed to all Punjabis to resist divisive ideologies and political opportunists who are out to keep them divided to be able to rule over their destinies.
The SAD chief said that his party will ‘wholeheartedly and unhesitatingly welcome and support any meaningful initiative which Bhagwant Mann or his govt took for the restoration of Punjabi unity, peace and communal harmony. “Where peace and harmony are concerned, we are all in it together; Politics can wait.” Badal also appealed to the Chief Minister to take every community, section and every political party along for ensuring peace and harmony in the state.