Punjab Deputy CM and SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal today said former terrorists had reunited to finish the moderate Sikh leadership in Punjab and impose an ISI- Taliban like rule which would be resisted and defeated at all costs.In a statement here, Sukhbir Badal urged the Sikh community to understand the entire conspiracy which had been hatched to take Punjab back to an era of turmoil. He said the community needed to understand who had indulged in wanton acts of sacrilege of Guru Grant Sahib and why they had happened. “It is quite clear. There was a feeling that the SAD-BJP government was set to come back to power in 2017. The sacrilege incidents and the resultant Sarbat Khalsa were held to attack all Sikh institutions including Sri Akal Takth, SGPC and the SAD and cripple the SAD-BJP combine in the run up to the elections”.Stating that this conspiracy would never succeed, Mr Badal said both the Punjab government and the SAD would stand up to the extremists and foil their designs.
He said the Punjab Police knew its responsibilities. “There was a period when due to raised sentiments due to desecration of Sri Guru Granth Sahib the police took a soft attitude. But now with the extremists having attacked Punjab and the country we will take strict action against them. We will not compromise on law and order come what may”.Mr Badal said the SAD had always stood up against extremism be it the emergency or terrorism. He said the party had always ensured a peaceful atmosphere during its government. “Communal harmony has always reigned under the chief ministership of Parkash Singh Badal”.Urging Sikhs to decide amongst themselves, the SAD president said on one side were extremists and criminals while on the other side was a moderate Sikh leadership which believed in taking all Punjabis along with it. “Radical leadership has finished Afghanistan and Iran and is engulfing Syria. We all have to introspect whether we should allow such leadership to take root in Punjab”, he added.
The SAD president also condemned the Punjab Congress for sending its leaders as well as supporters to the recent congregation as was proven by the spate of phone recordings of Congress leaders which were on the social media. He said the Congress was welcome to a political fight anytime but it should not use religion to tear apart the social fabric in Punjab. He also urged the people to make a list of Congress achievements during its government in 2002-07 vis a vis the present SAD-BJP government and choose the next government of their choice based on who had done more development.
Stating that political gains were not everything and definitely not beyond the unity and integrity of the country, the SAD president appealed to both the Congress and AAP not to politicise the recent incidents of sacrilege for political mileage. He also appealed to the people of Punjab to support the government in its endeavour to resist extremism and concentrate on growth and development.