Badals say Cong back to ’80s tactics

Faridkot, September 16

Thanking the High Court  for “saving” democracy by allowing the party’s ‘Jabar Virodhi rally’ in Faridkot today after the Punjab government  refused permission,  Shiromani Akali Dal patriarch Parkash Singh Badal vehemently rejected all allegations of sacrilege, while accusing the Congress of colluding with forces that had earlier thrown Punjab into turmoil during the 1980s.

“It is the same old nexus between the Congress and some elements rejected by the Khalsa Panth. The Congress objective is to grab the control of Sikh shrines and historic institutions,” he claimed. “The Congress is using a ‘fake (Justice Ranjit Singh Commission)’ report to target the Akalis and to exploit Sikh sentiments.”

SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal dubbed radical Sikh preachers Baljit Singh Daduwal and Dhian Singh Mand as “Congress puppets”. The two are heading a protest in Bargari. 

Alleging there had been 73 incidents of sacrilege since the Congress came to power, he said the party is resorting to its old formula of “divide and rule to wrest control of Sikh shrines and the SGPC”. 

Meanwhile, CM Capt Amarinder Singh announced to take on Badal by holding a rally in Lambi. The Akalis promptly announced a counter rally in Patiala. — TNS