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Journalism of Courage
AMRITSAR/CHANDIGARH, MARCH 4: Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh today cautioned the Parkash Singh Badal Government and the people that political and economic crises caging the State could prove detrimental to peace and prosperity.
Talking to mediapersons in Amritsar, he said that the Badal-Tohra feud coupled with the severe economic crunch facing the State, could incite terrorist elements across the border to exploit the situation to their advantage.
The economic crisis could lead to social unrest, prompting anti-national elements to step in, he observed. The Congress leader said that he was touring the State extensively in order to create an awareness among the people about the current problems that the Badal regime had allegedly created. “At the same time, I caution them that infighting in the ruling Akali Dal could once again bring back the period of militancy,” he added.
Asked about the possibility of the participation of his party in the next SGPC general elections, he said that the Congress as a party kept away from religious matters. However, every Sikh had the right to contest the SGPC elections. It was the duty of every Sikh to safeguard the institutions of Sikhism, he said.
Meanwhile, the Communist Party of India (CPI) has also apprehended the revival of terrorism in Punjab following the political tussle between the Akali stalwarts and has urged secular parties to join hands in combating certain fundamentalist forces “emerging again in the State”.
Addressing a press conference in Chandigarh today, CPI Punjab unit secretary Joginder Dayal held both Badal and Tohra responsible for the political disturbances in the state.
“Both these leaders are fighting for their vested interests, ignoring the severe social and economic crisis in Punjab,” he said. Dr Dayal alleged that many religious and political leaders had again become active in their “separatist approach”.
He condemned the statements of Tohra and Bhai Ranjit Singh, suspended jathedar of Akal Takht, where they had threatened serious consequences in case the two parties were opposed in their religious agendas.
