Irate Badal dares Amarinder again: Why the delay?

• The Congress’ wants to wrest control of Sikh shrines by capturing the SGPC.

• The revolt in the state Congress.

• Amarinder’s isolation and his attempt to divert attention from his personal failures.

• Badal had been named an accused by the Congress, so the need to draw up charges against him.

Badal said Amarinder had launched an open confrontation with the Khalsa Panth by putting Akali Dal leaders under surveillance to establish control over Sikh shrines.

‘‘They would soon be made to rue this blunder, which has direct parallels in the Mughal era and in the repressive reign of dictators such as Indira Gandhi,’’ Badal said.

He said that Amarinder, despite the state machinery at his disposal, would not be allowed to hijack Sikh heritage, history and traditions. The Akali leader confirmed that some SGPC members of his party had been sent to ‘‘safe places’’ but refuse to say if these were in adjoining Haryana.

In Ropar, SGPC member Jarnail Singh Aulakh, considered close to Badal, was booked for robbery, cheating, forgery, criminal breach of trust and other charges.

District police chief Gurpreet Singh Bhullar confirmed the case against Aulakh but was not sure if he had been arrested.

Badal met senior party colleagues and jathedars and reportedly discussed the strategy in case he is arrested on corruption charges.