No say in SGPC affairs, Cong misleading people: Sukhbir

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, January 14

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) kept its focus on the SGPC elections, rather than the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, during its Maghi Mela conference held here today.

Though the Badals highlighted the achievements of the Central government, they talked more about the SGPC, alleging that the Congress had stooped too low to seize control of the committee and trying to create a divide within the community by colluding with anti-Sikh forces.

SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal started his speech, saying, “The anti-Panthic forces are misleading the Sikhs by saying that the Badals have control over the SGPC. Its elections are held by a central commission and even votes are prepared by it. How can any party control it? Further, the elections are not just held in Punjab, but in Haryana too.”

He also targeted Sikh hardliners calling them “money-minting people”. They (protesters at Bargari) had earned Rs22 crore during their months-long dharna, Sukhbir claimed.

He further trained his guns on Finance Minister Manpreet Badal, saying: “Manpreet will do something that the Congress will never come back to power in Punjab.” He said this after highlighting some schemes launched by the previous SAD-BJP government, but were either discontinued by the Congress or awaiting funds since long like shagun scheme, scholarships and free tubewell power supply.

On the Chief Minister, he said: “Capt Amarinder never goes anywhere in the state, whereas Badal sahib always remains among people,” said Sukhbir.

He appealed to party workers to visit every household in the state in the next two months, work hard and win all 13 Lok Sabha seats in the state.

Former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal started his speech with a choked voice, but got the momentum within seconds. “The Congress is responsible for the 1984 riots and attack on the Golden Temple. Now, other parties are trying to take control over the SGPC,” he alleged.

He appreciated Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that he had a positive approach towards the state and Sikhs.

In his high-decibel speech, former minister Bikram Singh Majithia targeted Cabinet Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu without naming him over his demand for additional security cover.

BJP leader Tikshan Sood represented the BJP in the rally. Though party’s state chief Shwait Malik’s photo was displayed on the hoarding, he failed to turn up.

The anti-Panthic forces are misleading the Sikhs by saying that the Badals control the SGPC. Its elections are held by a central commission and even votes are prepared by it. How can any party control it?  —Sukhbir Singh Badal, Shiromani Akali Dal Chief

ON THE SIDELINES

Women presence nil

Barring two women on the stage and another in the pandal, there was no other woman present in the SAD conference. Even a senior party leader admitted to the fact. Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal too skipped the event.

YAD, SOI workers upbeat

Youth Akali Dal (YAD) and Student’s Organisation of India (SOI) workers, who were present in large numbers, kept waving the party flags till the end of rally

‘Manpreet duplicate Badal’ 

Former minister Bikram Singh Majithia termed Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal as “duplicate Badal”. He said, “There is a difference between duplicate and original Badal. You have seen the working of Badal sahib (Parkash Singh Badal), who granted funds for development works, but now if employees go and meet Manpreet for their provident funds they can better understand the difference.”

Sounds of laughter

Senior SAD leader and RS member Balwinder Singh Bhunder made the public laugh when he said, “Why are you touching me? Are we in a hurry?” When Bhunder was addressing the public, SAD’s Muktsar district president Kanwarjit Singh Rozy Barkandi came to the dais and touched Bhunder, hinting him to cut short his speech.

Badal speaks, people leave  

When Parkash Singh Badal was addressing the public as the last speaker, not just people sitting in the ‘pandal’ and some leaders present on the stage started leaving the venue, but Bikram Majithia too started holding a meet with some youth and student wing leaders just behind the dais.

Maluka justifies rally

Though the Congress said it did not hold a rally as it was against the directive of the Akal Takht, SAD leaders Sikander Singh Maluka and Balwinder Singh Bhunder said religion and politics were inter-linked for Sikh community. — Archit Watts