Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Badal on Monday castigated the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for committing sacrilege by insulting and disrespecting the living guru — Guru Granth Sahib — by equating it with a frivolous manifesto released by the party at a public meeting in Amritsar a day before.
“AAP and its spokesman Ashish Khetan, who also headed the Delhi Dialogue Commission of the party, had equated a document released on Sunday with the Guru Granth Sahib in the presence of AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal and the entire top Punjab leadership of the party…This is an act of blasphemy which has hurt the sentiments of the Sikh community worldwide and we condemn it as such,” said Sukhbir.
He said that it was understood that AAP leaders in Punjab did not have any conscience and had become yes-men of Kejriwal and his team of outsiders and that was why they had not raised their voice against this sacrilegious act.
“But for me as a Sikh, it is galling to learn how this new party has attacked the very identity and heritage of the Sikhs. Members of the Sikh community have also brought this base act to my notice. I assure the entire community that the SAD will fulfil its responsibility and raise its voice against this wanton act aimed at diluting Sikh identity and culture,” he added.
Asking Kejriwal to take immediate action against his underling, the SAD president said that no apology on the part of Khetan would be good enough to assuage the hurt feelings of the Sikh Sangat.
“However, immediate dismissal of Khetan from all party posts and expulsion from AAP will send a signal that you are not party to this heinous act. But if you do not act immediately against your arrogant and mischievous underling it will be presumed that this utterance was part of a planned AAP agenda authored by you,” he said.
Asking Kejriwal to come clean on this issue immediately, the SAD president said that he should explain to Sikhs why he had become party to this shameful act and why he had not condemned it till now.
“You are known to shed crocodile tears on all issues concerning Sikhs and Punjabis and have lied, duped and betrayed them on various occasions. The very fact that you are quiet on this issue is also proof that you have utter disregard for the sentiments of the Sikh community and are ready to ride roughshod over them,” he said.
Stating that he bowed his head to the Guru Granth Sahib every day and took blessings from it as devout Sikhs did worldwide, the SAD president said that nobody could refer to the holy book in such a way and get away with it.
“Nothing can be equated to the Granth Sahib. You are welcome to do politics in Punjab and criticise us all you want but we cannot remain mute spectators to the insult and dishonour of our living Guru,” he added.