Cong not deviating from secularism, says Amarinder

CHANDIGARH, Jan 18: The Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee PPCC today formed different task-force committees for organising the year-lon...

CHANDIGARH, Jan 18: The Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee PPCC today formed different task-force committees for organising the year-long Khalsa tercentenary celebrations.

Talking to reporters after a meeting of the 45-member programme committee here, PPCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh said there was no question of the party deviating from its secular policy since it was part of its ideology to respect and honour all religions. quot;Critics within the party opposed to the celebrations were a lonely voice and would be dealt with as per party rules,quot; he added.

Incidentally, PPCC vice-president Jagmeet Brar, who drew flak for the manner in which he went about organising the proposed march, was not present at the meeting. Party sources later said that Brar was in total agreement with the unanimous decisions of the party. Amarinder Singh said the party disciplinary committee had submitted its report on the activities of Brahm Mohindra, who had opposed the celebrations, and the same would be sent to the high command. The quot;Sarbans Daani Sharda Yatraquot;, he added, would be taken out from Damdama Sahib along a particular route and would end at Anandpur Sahib around Baisakhi. The date of culmination of the Yatra would be decided in consultation with Sharad Pawar and Dr Manmohan Singh, who were looking after tercentenary celebrations by all the PCCs in the country, Amarinder said.

The party would bring the quot;Dashmesh Jyotquot; from Patna Sahib gurdwara after passing through Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Haryana to merge with the quot;Sarbans Daani Sharda Yatraquot; in Punjab. Besides, the party would organise kirtan darbars, dhadi darbars, inter-faith seminars and religious discussions all over the state, he said.

The Congress president clarified that the party would not contact Akal Takht Jathedar Bhai Ranjit Singh again for participating in the march since he had refused when Jagmeet Brar had approached him. quot;If anybody wants to join the procession on his own, he is most welcome, but no special invitations will be sent out,quot; Amarinder Singh said.

Replying to a question, he said that earlier the party was considering inviting SAD president Parkash Singh Badal and SGPC chief G.S. Tohra to the celebrations, but quot;both the leaders were busy spreading venom against the Congress, holding it responsible for various illsquot;. Hence, the party had now decided not to invite the two.

Bir Devinder Singh, secretary general of the PPCC, has been asked to chalk out a programme to invite party president Sonia Gandhi, Amarinder said.