Amit Shah hails ‘bhaichare ka sardar’ Parkash Singh Badal, says Sikhs lost a true soldier and farmers a sympathiser

He was addressing the congregation at the Badal village in Sri Muktsar Sahib after paying tributes to the veteran Akali leader, who died on April 25 at the age of 95. The bhog and antim ardaas for the five-time former CM was organised at Mata Jaswant Kaur Memorial Public School grounds. Earlier, paying tributes to Badal, Shah said that the former Punjab chief minister’s death was an irreparable loss to not only Punjab but also to the country.

“In the passing away of Badal Sahab, the Sikh community has lost a true soldier, the country has lost a patriot, the farmers have lost a true sympathiser, and politics has lost a great man who set high standards,” Shah said.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Union ministers Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Som Parkash and senior BJP leader Tarun Chugh too paid tributes.

“During the Emergency, he firmly stood to protect democracy. Whether it was the Kargil War or the fight against terror, on every front, Badal Sahab always stood like a shield for the national interest,” Shah said. “From 1970 till today, whenever the time came to stand for the country, Badal sahab never showed his back,” he said, adding that Badal laid the foundation stone of a new Punjab.Shah said that despite the fact that “our paths were different,” Badal always suggested “what was good for my party as well.”

The Akali Dal was one of the oldest allies of the BJP, before the former walked out of the National Democratic Alliance in September 2020 in protest against three farms bills brought by the Centre then.

Shah lauded Badal as an ‘Ajatashatru’ (the one without enemies). “In his 70 years of political journey, he made no enemies. During my political journey, I met him a number of times. Irrespective of our political differences, he gave me advice that was helpful in my political journey. Shah also said that SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal has told him that Badal had got a temple, a mosque and a gurdwara built in the Badal village.

Referring to Badal’s imprisonment during his long career, Shah said Badal fought for principles and ‘panth’. The Union minister urged people to take inspiration from Badal’s life and follow the path shown by him.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla lauded Badal for contributing to the prosperity of Punjab. He said Badal started his political career as a sarpanch and later became the Chief Minister of Punjab.

Birla said Badal always worked for the welfare of farmers, poor and other weaker sections of the society.
Paying rich tributes to the Akali veteran, Asom Gana Parishad chief Atul Bora said Badal always fought for the rights of Punjab, communal harmony and for the farmers.

CPI(M) leader Sukhwinder Singh spoke about the “narrative being created against Punjabis” and said, “Badal always fought for the rights of Punjab”.

Shah sitting in the crowd, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee ( SGPC) raised the issue of Sikh prisoners. “We appeal to the union Home Minister to consider our demand of releasing Bandi Singhs who have completed their jail terms. This was a campaign initiated by Badal Sahab and it would be a tribute to him if this demand is fulfilled,” Dhami said and also gave a memorandum to Shah before he left the venue .

Delhi Sikh Gurdwara management committee’s former president Paramjit Singh Sarna said, “The true tribute to Badal Saab will be if all those who have gone to different political parties return and strengthen the Akali Dal”. Without naming BJP, he said,”The ones who are ruling the country should never forget what Badal saab did for them and for the nation”.

CPI leader Hardev Singh Arshi termed Badal Senior as an institution while Congress leader Sachin Pilot remembered him as a tall leader. Former Haryana CM Om Parkash Chautala said that Badal always stood like a rock by his family.

Punjab BSP chief Jasbir Singh Garhi said that it was Badal who had first raised the demand for more rights to the states and had sought a separate capital for Punjab.