Journalism of Courage
Fresh from the recent panthic crisis triggered by desecrations of the Guru Granth Sahib and the widespread anti-Akali protests that swept Punjab afterwards, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal Sunday underlined that there is nothing wrong if politics and religion go hand in hand.
“Why can’t religion and politics go together? I have no idea what this criticism over political conferences being held at a religious event is all about, but I do not see any problem if religion and politics go hand in hand. No religion teaches us bad and if politics and religious issues support each other in a positive and clean way, then what is the problem,” said Badal, adding “Sikhism and its propagation has always been and will remain the core issues for Akali Dal”.
Stating that soon ‘Sri’ prefix would be officially added to Anandpur Sahib and Fatehgarh Sahib districts, Badal said secularism and socialism are mentioned in the Indian Constitution but Sikhs have been practicing it since ages.
“The Guru Granth Sahib is our lighthouse. It acts like a lamp in the heart of every Sikh and Akali Dal will not let this lamp flicker at any cost. People batting for Khalistan are misleading you but I request you to reject such divisive politics. Though I have made no mistake, still I apologise once again because I do not have any hesitation in apologising to my own people,” said Badal.
Even as the CM claimed “it is not his habit to attack someone personally”, he criticised Congress and Captain Amarinder Singh and said no “Sikh can forget how Golden Temple was attacked following orders of Indira Gandhi”.’
He added: “Captain Amarinder Singh ran away from Akali Dal after he lost polls and we denied him ticket. Tomorrow, if I lose polls, SAD will not give ticket to even me. They won’t even offer me a cup of tea. I asked Captain have you ever been to jail or led any protest for people? He said, no I am from a Maharaja family, so I said sorry we cannot give ticket to Maharajas. He ran away then,” said Badal.
He also attacked the Aam Aadmi Party, saying ‘jhaadu naal gareebi nahi hatugi’. (A broom symbol will not remove poverty).
DY CM: SAD represents SIkhs world over
Deputy chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal said the SAD is not merely a political party but representative of Sikhs worldwide.
“SAD is your family. We may have shortcomings and misunderstandings but family is family. Do you think Congress or AAP can do even one per cent of what SAD has done for Sikhs. We have always understood the sentiments of Sikhs and be it turban issue in France or hate crime in US, we have raised Sikh issues,” said Sukhbir.
“Elections are in another one year and it is time for you to decide that which party has worked for Sikhs. The Opposition is trying to divide Sikhs. Already, we are a small number in the world, so let’s not break this unity at the behest of parties like Congress who were the masterminds of the 1984 massacre,” he said.
