Badals ‘ex-communicated’

Varinder Singh & Bharat Khanna

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, December 8

The ‘Sarbat Khalsa-appointed jathedars’ today “ex-communicated” Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his son Sukhbir Badal.

Parallel “jathedars” Dhian Singh Mand, Amrik Singh Ajnala and Baljit Singh Daduwal and SAD (A) chief Simranjit Singh Maan announced their decision on the social media after they were detained by the police at Singhpura village (Haryana) and Peonan Pujarian villages (Punjab) at around 12 noon. They were not allowed to proceed to the ‘Sarbat Khalsa’ venue — Natt road in Talwandi Sabo.

Sikh activists organised a protest at Khanda Chowk in Talwandi Sabo seeking their release. The police were forced to bring the leaders to Khanda Chowk and release them there. Mand and Daduwal again announced their decision to ex-communicate the Badals.

They exhorted the Sikhs not to have any “roti, beti ki saanjh” (relations of food and daughters) with Parkash Singh Badal and his son Sukhbir Singh Badal.

They held the duo responsible for 85 cases of desecration of Guru Granth Sahib apart from being “accused” in the killing of two innocent Sikh youths in the Behbal Kalan police firing.

SAD (Amritsar) general secretary Kushal Pal Singh Mann claimed that in violation of human rights and Article 19 and 21 of the Constitution, the Punjab Police had arrested more than 4,000 Sikhs.

He alleged that Akali “goons” in connivance with the Punjab Police had brutally beaten up three innocent aged Sikhs at Bhagi Vandar village near Maur Mandi today.

“The police conducted raids on the houses of Sikhs across the state. There was an imposition of an undeclared emergency, especially in Mansa and Bathinda districts,” said Mann.

Inspector General SK Asthana denied the allegations of police high-handedness and said all preventive measures were taken only to ensure peace.

Mand said, “There have been over 85 cases of desecration of Guru Granth Sahib and the killing of two Sikh protesters at Behbal Kalan.”