Eradicate casteism, says Dayal

He lamented that segregation of gurdwaras and cremation sites on caste lines in rural Punjab was a matter of worry. Adding that serious efforts should be made to check such tendencies, Dayal demanded that inter-caste marriages be encouraged to transform the society. He pointed out that the Akali Dal, as a party, had failed to protect the interests of non-Jat leaders.

Criticising the Punjab Government for funding purely religious activities, he demanded that a medical college be established in Anandpur Sahib as part of the Khalsa terecntenary celebrations. quot;We are not opposed to the development of Anandpurquot;, he clarified.

In the same breath, he opposed the Congress for holding parallel celebrations. quot;Being a party which is primarily secular and not relgion based, the Congress should have abstained from sponsoring spiritual processionsquot;. Replying to a question, he said, the Congress was trying to score a point over the ruling Akali Dal and this amounted to a policy of appeasement of the Sikhs in Punjab. Dayal said, 8220;The Congress is primarily a secular party and represents all communities, whereas the BJP or the Akali Dal are based on one particular religion.quot;

He further disclosed that the CPI will also supplement the constructive aspect of the celebrations by holding a seminar of progressive writers and scholars in Chandigarh. quot;Our discussions will revolve around the social aspect of the Khalsa tercentenaryquot;, he said.