Bluestar memorial may trigger unrest in state,says Congress

“Punjab has plunged into a state of shock and fear with the raising of a memorial in the memory of Operation Bluestar by SGPC at Golden Temple under the active patronage of Punjab Government. It is an event that can trigger unrest in the state of Punjab and disturb the hard earned peace,” the memorandum states.

The paper stated that the Golden temple is no ordinary place of worship but “is the fountainhead of Sikhism and place of spiritual and religious solace to millions of Hindus and Muslims too.”

“The abuse of place (Golden Temple) to honour killers of a chief minister (late Beant Singh) of Punjab,with tacit understanding of Punjab government,is an act that tantamount to showing disrespect to all those Punjabis who lost their precious lives in the inferno of mindless violence during the phase of terrorism,” it added.

Unfortunately Punjab Government has remained “mute spectator” and Akali leadership a “conniving partner” in this event at Golden Temple,Jakhar said in the memorandum.

Democracy hijacked

The delegation also told the Governor there was a breakdown of law and order in the state with ruling party blatantly misusing official machinery to ensure victory in the civic elections.

The memo states that the process of democracy has been decimated and rendered irrelevant with “goondaraj” of Akali-BJP combine.

The delegation gave details of the “attack” on vehicles of Raikot MLA Gurcharan Singh Boparai and former MLA Jasbir Khangura and Malkiat Dakha at Mullanpur Dakha in Ludhiana on Thursday.

Another former MLA Madan Lal Jalalpur was physically assaulted by state police and Akali workers in Ghanour in Patiala district.

The party said that 40,000 fake names have been incorporated in Amritsar Municipal corporation voter list. Congress candidates were intimidated by Akali leadership and state police to withdraw nominations.

“The Congress apprehends repeat of violence and hijacking of electoral process in the municipal corporation elections slated for June 10 and demands that SAD-BJP government be questioned on issue of patronising separatist agenda and complete breakdown of law and order in Punjab. The state government must ensure that no untoward incidence occurs during municipal corporation elections,” the memo added.

Scrap supplementary voters’ lists: Amritsar Congress leaders

Alleging ‘irregularities’ in the supplementary voter lists, Congress leaders of Amritsar submitted a memorandum to Amritsar deputy commissioner on Friday. Members demanded cancellation of supplementary voters’ lists alleging that it had been prepared to benefit SAD-BJP in the civic polls. The memo also sought to get 5,000 licensed weapons confiscated to reduce chances of violence.

Randhawa questions BJP’s ‘unholy alliance’ with SAD

A day after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership termed the upcoming Operation Bluestar memorial as anti-national,the Congress questioned why the party was still continuing with its ‘unholy alliance’ with Shiromani Akali Dal.

Congress MLA Sukhjinder Randhawa,in a statement on Friday,said that the ruling alliance was pushing Punjab towards the black days of terrorism by supporting the radicals and asked “if BJP feels that it is a wrong act,then why is it not withdrawing its support to the government”.

“Is the greed for power forcing the BJP to support a government that is indulging in anti-national activity? (It seems) BJP Central leadership wants this unholy alliance to continue as they are eyeing a NDA government at centre,” Randhawa said,

He said that by allowing the Bluestar memorial,the SAD was giving “official recognition to militant activities of 1980 onwards in which scores of innocent Punjabis were killed.”

He also asked the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to break his silence and explain “whether he follows Indian constitution or diktats of radicals.”

Criticising BJP,Randhawa quoted the BJP leader L K Advani’s speech in Parliament on Operation Bluestar. He (Advani) said,“In Punjab there are three guilty parties: the extremists led by Bhindranwale,the Akali Dal and the government. He also said BJP should not forget that it was SAD that had first passed a resolution for the memorial.”