Amritpal propped up by central agencies, says Sukhbir Badal

“How can a person who wears a ‘chola’ and partakes ‘amrit’ a year back represent the panth and not a 103 years old party which has a consistent record of safeguarding panthic values. I urge the people to evaluate whether Amritpal has been propped up by central agencies. What other explanation can be for a person who first propped up, then projected and arrested, and is now being kept in safe custody only to be used as a candidate in the parliamentary elections to counter the popularity of the SAD,” said Sukhbir.

Badal pointed out that Amritpal had said he would not enter politics and was only interested in ‘amrit parchar’ and fighting the drug menace. “It is also a fact that Amritpal was facilitated to file his papers despite being incarcerated under the NSA in Dibrugarh,” Badal claimed.

The SAD chief questioned how Amritpal could think of leading the ‘quom’ when he could not remain in jail for even a year.

“Our family did not hold dharnas to get my father father Parkash Singh Badal free when he was in jail for 16 years. Akali leaders courted arrest and never disguised themselves to avoid being caught as had been done by Amritpal,” Badal said claiming that Amritpal was contesting elections to free himself and not Bandi Singhs. “The families of Bandi Singh are with the SAD,” he added.

Targeting SAD’s former ally the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Badal said, “They are losing elections. Forget about securing 400 seats, they won’t be able to get even 200 seats.”

He also condemned the alleged divisive campaign being run by the BJP, saying every minority has the same rights as enjoyed by the majority sections of society.

“Delhi-based parties just want to rule Punjab, not to serve. It is the ideology of the Akali Dal that all religions should be respected. There should be communal harmony and peace. Some parties make people fight over religion. This country belongs to all religions whether their population is one per cent, 18 per cent or 80 per cent,” he said.

Badal said, “BJP has been attacking you (people) since we snapped ties with them over the farmer agitation. RSS has captured the Takht Hazur Sahib in Maharashtra by abolishing old Acts. Today, the Takht Harmandir Sahib in Patna Sahib is also in control of the RSS. Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee is also in control of the RSS. They divided the SGPC. BJP did what the British or other parties couldn’t do.”

“You all must wake up. We might have taken some decisions which you did not like, but we are yours,” Sukhbir said.

Box

The SAD president appealed to the electorate to remember the voting would take place on June 1. “The same day in 1984, Indira Gandhi had attacked Sri Darbar Sahib with tanks and mortars. Sikhs should also remember the manner their brethren were massacred in Delhi and elsewhere in 1984 under a Congress-sponsored progrom,” Badal said.