Punjab politics took centrestage in Delhi on Saturday as State’s Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal petitioned President Pranab Mukherjee seeking the “derecognition” of the Congress for its “anti-national” acts, evoking a strong counter from the Opposition party which said it needed “no lessons of patriotism and nationalism from the Badals”.
Badal accused the Congress of fomenting trouble in the State and encouraging secessionist forces. His charge came a day after Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi met the President seeking a judicial probe into the recent police firings in Punjab.
At a Press conference, Badal, who is the chief of Punjab’s ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal), alleged that Congress leaders had shared stage with separatist elements at a gathering (Sarbat Khalsa) in Amritsar on November 10 where slogans demanding Khalistan were raised. He even alleged that under Rahul’s leadership the Congress was trying to create an environment similar to militancy days in Punjab.
Badal said that his Government had written to the union Home Ministry about the developments in Punjab. “The role of the Congress had been exposed as its leaders had attended the gathering where the major demand was for a separate State of Khalistan,” Badal said. He alleged that video footages on social media show Congress leaders directing separatists about what to say and that they have provided other support for the gathering. Badal also claimed that one of the Congress leaders present — Ramanjit Singh Sikki — is known to be close to Amarinder Singh, while another Congress leader Inderjit Singh Zira was also present at the gathering.
Referring to the Sarbat Khalsa, Badal said they appointed the convict in Beant Singh assassination case as ‘jathedar’ or chief priest. “The Congress is trying to distance itself from the congregation. If they were not part of it, why has no action been taken against Congress leaders who were on stage and provided support,” Badal charged. He alleged Rahul went to Punjab to encourage radical elements.
The Congress lost no time in returning fire by fielding its tallest leader from Punjab Captain Amarinder Singh who rejected Badal’s charges saying, frustrated over their own failures the Akali Dal was trying to shift blame on his party. Singh, who is also former Punjab Chief Minister, said the Akalis in Punjab are unnerved over Congress’ popularity which is why they have launched a “malicious, slanderous campaign against the party and its leaders”.
“We in the Congress do not need any lessons on patriotism and nationalism from someone like Sukhbir Badal, whose father and Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal still takes pride in having burnt the copies of the Constitution of India during Khalistan movement,” Singh said. The Congress leader added that it was during the Badal’s Government between 1977 and 1979 that Punjab was pushed into turmoil and terrorism and now it is again under the Badal’s Government that the State is facing threats from same forces. “Even then they used to blame the Congress as they are trying to blame it on us again”, he said.
The Congress said Sarbat Khalsa was a religious and not a political or anti-national congregation and there was nothing wrong in anyone attending it as a Sikh. Singh clarified that apart from the Congress, leaders of other political parties also attended the congregation. He added the presence of huge number of people at Sarbat Khalsa was an expression of anger against the incumbent Badal Government and not support of Khalistan as being projected by the Deputy CM.
On Badal’s claims that he had proof as to how anti-national resolutions at the Sarbat Khalsa were prepared and passed, Singh questioned: “What was he doing as the Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister of the StateIJ Does his responsibility finish at blaming the CongressIJ He should better own the moral responsibility and resign.”
“Had it really been a pro-Khalistan congregation and not an anti-Badal show, why should a Khalistan proponent like Simranjit Singh Mann not be allowed to speak thereIJ” he asked. Singh also pointed out that while Rahul was welcomed with open arms as he walked through the villages in Badals’ bastions, the CM family and his Ministers were scared to venture out. “So much so every day there are reports of Akali leaders, Ministers and legislators being thrashed by people out of anger”, he said and added, a Minister Sikander Singh Malukha was slapped by an elderly angry farmer in his home town on Friday.