Now, Deputy CM blames ISI for sacrilege incidents

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 13

Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal has termed the November 10 congregation an engineered political programme christened as Sarbat Khalsa.

He along with his wife and Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur paid obeisance at the Golden Temple today.

Without naming anyone, he said those appointed leaders during the congregation were facing charges of murder and other heinous crimes.

“How could they lead the Sikh community? They are anti-national elements. These elements want to push Punjab back to the black days of terrorism. The Congress is supporting them as one of their MLAs was present on the dais,” he said.

On the ongoing unrest in the state, the Deputy CM said the sacrilege incidents were a deep-rooted conspiracy fuelled by Pakistan’s ISI and other foreign agencies in a bid to disturb peace in the state.

On controversies surrounding the SGPC, Panj Pyaras and Akal Takht Jathedar, the Deputy CM said: “The government has no role to play in the affairs of the Golden Temple and SGPC. The role and duties of Panj Pyaras has well been defined. Ask the SGPC about it.”

SAD-BJP leaders’ meet

Chandigarh: Leaders of the alliance partners, SAD and BJP, on Friday met to observe next year as "year of development".

BJP leaders Local Bodies Minister Anil Joshi and Industries Minister Madan Mohan Mittal and state party chief Kamal Sharma met Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal where the former reportedly referred to "the loss of time in development activities due to failure of the government in taking timely action in sacrilege cases.

Sources said Mittal and Joshi pointed out that several development projects in urban areas as well as for the industry were pending. They reportedly pointed out that the pursuance of panthic issues would not be beneficial for the state.

The leaders agreed that pushing a development agenda would steer the state out of the ongoing crisis.