With three Chief Ministers being booed in Government functions in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi was present, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Friday called upon the representatives of all political parties to strictly maintain decorum, discipline and refrain from creating ruckus by way of ‘hooting’ and other unsavory acts of distraction during public functions.
Talking to media persons of the sidelines of a function to mark the launch of scheme for the welfare of widows here at PAU, the Chief Minister said that this unhealthy practice was not only undemocratic but also ethically and morally deplorable. Asked to comment on the recent incidents of ‘hooting’ during Prime Minister’s function in Haryana, Badal said that he was unable to comment specifically as he never knew whether this incident was just spontaneous or well planned.
Asked about RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat’s statement on Hindutva, the Chief Minister said that India being a secular and sovereign State was inhabited by people of different religions, castes, faiths and communities and therefore we must respect all the religions with reverence and should abstain from hurting the sentiments of people having faith in different religions and cults. Badal said that he had been a true votary of peace, communal harmony and brotherhood throughout his political career spanning over nearly six decades and had ever given the precedence to it even over other important aspects of development and infra structural growth.
Meanwhile, Congress Deputy leader in the lok Sabha Capt Amarinder Singh questioned the silence of the PM on the issue. “His silence amounts to consent,” he remarked. The Congress Deputy leader also lashed out at the BJP for defending and justifying these incidents. “Instead of asking its workers to behave the party has tried to put the blame on the Chief Ministers asking them to introspect”, he pointed out, while remarking, this is a clear indication from the BJP to their cadres that they were not doing anything wrong.