Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today appealed the entire opposition especially the state Congress leaders Captain Amarinder Singh and Mr. Partap Singh Bajwa to shun the divisive politics and also advised them not to play with fire with an ulterior motive to disturb the congenial atmosphere of peace, communal harmony and brotherhood in the state.Addressing a gathering of estimated to be over three lakh persons at the first Sadbhawana Rally here today, the Chief Minister warned these leaders that the flames of hatred politics would not only destroy the social fabric in the state but would also engulf them thereby decimating their very existence forever. He said that the top priority of the SAD-BJP alliance government was to maintain the law and order in the state through preserving the hard earned peace, amity and harmony at every cost.
Dwelling on the very purpose of holding a series of such rallies across the state, the Chief Minister said that it was neither political nor personal but to reinforce the trust and confidence of the people of the state especially after the November 10 function organized by certain anti-Punjab and anti-panthic elements supported by the Congress to misguide the innocent people by exploiting their religious sentiments. Mr. Badal said, “I am overwhelmed to see this teeming participation of the people in today’s gathering, which has vindicated our stand that they could never be swayed by the false propaganda unleashed by the anti-Punjab forces”.The Chief Minister categorically said that the Chaba function had established the fact that the radical groups, who were hell bent upon to disturb peace, harmony and tranquility in the state, and the anti-Sikh Congress party were the two sides of a same coin. He said that these inimical forces to Punjab’s peace, prosperity and progress were constantly conspiring to push the state back into black days of Militancy. On this solemn occasion, Mr. Badal urged every Punjabi to take a pledge to desist the anti-Punjab and anti-panthic forces, whose sole agenda was to divide the people on sectarian lines.
The Chief Minister asked the people to be wary of dubious role of these anti-Punjab and panthic forces who were trying to reorganize themselves to disturb the peaceful atmosphere in the state. He further said that the leaders of these groups like Simranjeet Singh Mann and self proclaimed Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib had not at all any base amongst the masse, which was evident from the fact that both were badly trounced and rejected by the electorate during the last general elections. The Chief Minister reminded the agony of those black days when these anti-Punjab elements were trying to create a wedge between the two principle communities living peacefully in the state since time immemorial adding that the wise people of the state would never allow these forces to raise their ugly head and succeed in their nefarious designs.
Mr. Badal said that during these turbulent times few of their prominent leaders like Sant Harchand Singh Longowal, Bhai Shaminder Singh and Babu Hit Abhilashi were martyred and several abortive attempts were made on lives of beloved Akali leaders like late Jathedar Gurcharan Singh Tohra, late Jathedar Jagdev Singh Talwandi and others. He impressed upon the people to act as ‘volunteers of peace’ in their respective villages, towns and cities to sensitize their fellow brethren and sisters to inculcate a sense of belongingness, love, peace, amity and brotherhood as preached our great Sikh Gurus, saints, seers and prophets. Mr. Badal said that Punjabis were so magnanimous by their heart that they ever nurtured a feeling of hatred against none and always longed for the welfare of all, which was reflected from their daily prayer-‘Ardas’.In his address, while reiterating the firm resolve of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) to rule the state for the next 25 years Punjab Deputy Chief Minister and SAD President S. Sukhbir Singh Badal today said that SAD is the only force which has the ability to defeat the evil forces out to destroy the hard earned peace of Punjab.
Addressing a mammoth gathering of the SAD-BJP workers and leaders,Deputy CM thundered that congress party should desist from playing dirty games which have hampered the peaceful atmosphere of state earlier also. Daring the congress to organize similar gathering of this gigantic proportions at the same place Mr. Badal said the SAD is ever ready to face it in the political arena during coming general assembly elections. Sounding the poll bugle, he said that this rally should be regarded as the beginning of the battle of 2017 which would see the already decimated congress party go into the political oblivion.
Deputy Chief Minister said that the heart of not only Sikhs but every rationale thinking person was deeply pained at the recent unfortunate incidents of the sacrilege of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and efforts are on to nab the culprits besides speedily bringing the guilty to book as the investigation of the case had been entrusted to the CBI. Taking the congress to task, the SAD President said that like it did more than three decades ago, the congress party is again fishing in troubled waters and poisoning the peaceful atmosphere of the state.
Describing the congress as a leader of the fascist forces in league with other political parties ---AAP and the BSP, S. Badal said that the recently held Chabba congregation is a proof enough that the Congress, BSP and AAP are hand in glove with the anti-Punjab, anti-National and secessionist forces who again want to stoke the fires of communalism in the state. Describing the Punjab Congress as a pawn in the hands of Gandhi family, S. Badal disclosed that the Chabba congregation could not have been held without the tacit approval of the Gandhi's. He said that the Gandhi family has never cared for the welfare of Punjab instead this family was responsible for the storming of golden temple complex and the anti-Sikh massacre in 1984. Mounting a stinging attack on the congress, the SAD President said the power struggle and rivalry going on in the Punjab Congress between Captain Amarinder Singh and Partap Singh Bajwa are strengthening the hands of radicals and it would spell the doom for the party in Punjab. Cautioning the Punjabi's to beware of the cat and mouse tactics of the state congress, S. Badal said that their internal bickering reminds one of the intense rivalry between Giani Zail Singh and Darbara Singh during the 80's and that was precisely the cause which played havoc with the peace and communal harmony of the state. Lambasting both the congress leaders, Deputy CM said that duo have a chequered past as both have written letters against each other to the party high command levelling charges of most serious nature including sheltering the militants and smugglers.Challenging the Captain to showcase a single development measure carried out during his regime, the Deputy Chief Minister informed that in sharp contrast to the anti-people policies of the congress tyrannical rule, the SAD-BJP government under the dynamic leadership of Chief Minister S. Parkash Singh Badal has taken a slew of measures for the upliftment of all the strata of society including economically weaker sections, farmers, traders and people in the twilight of their lives.
In her emotive address, the Union Minister for Food Processing Mrs Harsimrat Kaur Badal said that the Sikhs could tolerate anything in their life but they could never compromise on the disrespect to their eternal Guru, Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji. She said that the sacrilege incidents of Sri Guru Granth Sahib has bruised the feelings of Sikh community across the globe adding that the perpetrators of this inhuman crime would not be spared at any cost. Lambasting at the Chaba function organized by anti-panthic and anti-Punjab forces, she said that it has brought these elements to the fore, who were desperately making every effort to stall the process of prosperity and development in the state, by disturbing the peaceful atmosphere in the state. The Union Minister said that in the testing times Punjabis always followed the path shown by the great Guru Sahiban and worked relentlessly to maintain peace, harmony and amity in the state. She said that the Shiromani Akali Dal was the only party which was committed for the welfare and prosperity of all sections of society while other parties were pursuing their personal agenda through exploiting their religious sentiments. She also made an emotional appeal to all the people across the globe to celebrate the Parkash Gurpurab of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji by illuminating their houses, buildings and religious places in a big way so that anti-Punjab and anti-Sikh forces should get a foretaste of the 'never say die' spirit besides unity and brotherhood of Punjabis.
In his address, state BJP President Kamal Sharma said that the recent incidents of desecration of Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji had tormented the psyche of every Punjabi irrespective of his religion, caste and community because Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji is an eternal Guru and none could ever tolerate disrespect towards this holy book. He urged the Chief Minister to expose the perpetrators who committed this heinous crime against the mankind. On the occasion, Union Minister of state for Social Justice and Empowerment Mr. Vijay Sampla said that today’s mammoth gathering would go a long way in cementing the bonds of peace, communal harmony, brotherhood and amity in the state. He said that these incidents of sacrilege of Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji in the recent past has not only created resentment amongst the Sikh community but even the Hindus across the state were equally perturbed over these dastardly acts, which should be condemned by one and all.
Prominent amongst other present on the occasion included Cabinet Ministers Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia, Mr. Surjit Kumar Jyani, Mr. Janmeja Singh Sekhon and Mr. Sikander Singh Maluka, Advisor to Chief Minister Mr. Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal, Chief Parliamentary Secretaries Mr. Mantar Singh Brar and Mr. Sarup Chand Singla, Lok Sabha MP Prof. Prem Singh Chandumajra, Rajya Sabha MPs Mr. Balwinder Singh Bhunder and Mr. Naresh Gujral, MLAs Mr. Hari Singh Zira, Mr. Deep Malhotra, Mr. Darshan Singh Kotfatta, Bibi Jagir Kaur, Mr. Chitin Singh Samao, Mr. Harpreet Singh Malout and Mr. Prem Mittal, President of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee Mr. Manjit Singh GK, General Secretary Mr. Manjinder Singh Sirsa, Member Mr. Avtar Singh Hit, former MPs Bibi Paramjeet Kaur Gulshan and Bibi Gurcharan Kaur,