On Panthic turf, Congress hardsells secularism

The Congress on Monday urged Tarn Taran voters to pick secularism over divisive politics during the November 11 Assembly bypoll, anticipating attempts at religious polarisation by the BJP and the outfit led by jailed pro-Khalistan MP Amritpal Singh.

The party also accused Sukhbir Badal-led SAD of promoting gangsters. This comes amid fears that if the rival parties succeed in religious polarisation, it could also divide the secular vote, proving detrimental for the party that had last bagged the seat during the 2017 state polls.

The bypoll was announced by the Election Commission on Monday, for which state parties are locked in a multi-corner contest on the Panthic seat. The contest has been necessitated by the death of ruling AAP legislator Kashmir Singh Sohal. Taking on rivals, Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring said hardliners, particularly those associated with the Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De), stood exposed.

Referring to SAD candidate Sukhwinder Kaur Randhawa, he alleged that the party was promoting “gangster culture”.

Alleging that the SAD candidate was related to a gangster, the Ludhiana MP said voters would have to pick between a secular party and those siding with hardliners or gangsters.

Joining the issue, Kapurthlala MLA Rana Gurjeet Singh blamed the BJP-led Centre for not addressing core Sikh issues, including the release of Bandhi Singhs — the Sikh prisoners languishing in jails despite the completion of their sentences.

“The BJP wants to keep the pot boiling as part of its divisive politics,” he alleged.

Referring to the hardliner factor in the bypoll, the Kapurthlala MLA said the Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De) led by Amritpal Singh could not be ignored. Rana’s remarks came following reports that the Sikh Youth Federation (Bhindranwale) was persuading Patiala jail murder accused Sandip Singh, alias Sunny, to contest the bypoll. Sunny is in jail for the 2022 murder of Shiv Sena (Taksali) leader Sudhir Suri and was recently accused of the September 10 killing of a fellow jail inmate, former Inspector Suba Singh. Meanwhile, Amritpal’s party is trying to persuade Paramjit Kaur Khalra, widow of murdered human right activist Jaswant Singh Khalra.

“With the intention to polarise votes, the BJP is prodding hardliners. This will be exposed in the bypoll and the 2027 Assembly polls,” Rana claimed while asserting that the Congress was on a sound footing as senior party Sukhbinder Sukh Sarkaria had been made the in-charge for the contest.