Won’t expel leaders, says Capt

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 29

State Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh today rejected Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal’s demand for action against Congress leaders who had attended Sarbat Khalsa. He said the leaders had participated in the event “purely as devout Sikhs”.

He said Sukhbir should “better mind his own business than meddling in our party affairs”.

Amarinder said Sarbat Khalsa was a show of resentment against Badals’ failures, particularly “inaction” in sacrilege incidents.

Stressing that the Sarbat Khalsa was a religious congregation, he said: “By trying to label those who attended it as Khalistanis, Sukhbir is hurting the religious sentiments of people and trying to project an entire community as anti-national.”

“Do you mean that those who had gone there to protest the desecration of Guru Granth Sahib were all Khalistanis? Do you mean that every Sikh who raised his voice against desecration and rightly blamed you is a Khalistani,” questioned Amarinder.

He also questioned the state government’s move to bring life convict Devinderpal Singh Bhullar to Amritsar jail and to oppose the hanging of former CM Beant Singh’s assassin Balwant Singh Rajoana.

Invites Partap Bajwa to Bathinda rally

Amarinder has invited the outgoing state Congress president Partap Bajwa for his Bathinda rally. Confirming this, Bajwa said: "I have got a call from Amarinder and I have accepted his invitation."

He said Amarinder said he would formally take over as president of the state Congress in Bathinda. Besides, Amarinder also sought his cooperation for the rally, he said.

Plans religious start to new innings

New Delhi:Newly appointed Punjab Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh will start his fresh innings by paying obeisance at the Golden Temple, Durgiana Mandir and Ram Tirath in his Lok Sabha constituency of Amritsar on Wednesday.

Amarinder, who was named the Punjab Congress chief along with Ambika Soni as the state campaign committee chairperson, will pray for the political revival of the Congress in the state.

The visit is aimed at sending a message of solidarity to all three communities of Punjab: Sikhs, Hindus and Valmikis. Ram Tirath is associated with Rishi Valmiki.