Terming that the wounds of 1984 Sikh Carnage would ever remain afresh on psyche of every Sikh, the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said that the Sikh community would never forgive Congress for hatching the conspiracy of this dastardly act.Interacting with the media persons after laying the foundation stone of new building of Police station here today, the Chief Minister said that it was a well known fact that this heinous crime, in which hundreds of innocent Sikhs were massacred, was planned and executed by the then Congress government at the Centre. He said that every human being in general and Sikh community in particular could never forgive Congress for this grave sin, which was a blot on the history of Indian polity. Mr. Badal said that besides planning this genocide the Congress has rubbed salt into the wounds of Sikhs by shielding and honoring the perpetrators of this barbaric incident with coveted positions.
The Chief Minister said that Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), being the sole custodian of rights of Sikhs, had raised the issue of getting justice for victims of this genocide with the Government of India (GoI), time and again adding that this crusade would continue till exemplary punishment was not ensured to the guilty of this crime. Mr. Badal said that he had also taken up this issue with the NDA government at centre, which has assured to assuage the feelings of Sikhs by giving justice to victims of this genocide. “This issue has bruised the psyche of every Sikh and SAD is duty-bound to ensure that its perpetrators were brought to the book” added Mr. Badal. Refuting the charges of political vendetta leveled by the opposition parties, the Chief Minister said not even a single case has been registered by the Police out of vendetta. He said such allegations were totally baseless and without any ground. However, Mr. Badal said that if anybody still has any grievance regarding it then they could directly approach him with facts.
On another query, the Chief Minister said that the state government was examining the allegations regarding fake encounters leveled by a former cop Parminder Singh Pinky. However, he said that the person who was levying these allegations was not having any credibility.The Chief Minister further said that state government was laying special focus on maintaining law and order in the state for which special thrust was being laid on construction of Police stations and modernization of Police. He said that under this scheme new buildings of Police station at Chohla Sahib would come up at a cost of Rs 1.56 crore and that at Tarn Taran would be constructed at cost of Rs 2 crore.Earlier addressing the public gatherings during Sangat Darshan at village Tur, Khan Chabri and Kahlwan, the Chief Minister said that the massive response to Sadbhawana rallies in various districts of state have proved that people of Punjab want peace and progress in the state and there was no space for divisive agenda in the state. He said that peace and harmony were the basic ingredients of progress and prosperity of any country. Recalling the turbulent times of militancy, Mr. Badal said that more than 21,000 innocent people lost their lives during those times adding that Punjabis paid a heavy price of that period as due to it Punjab lagged behind in development. He said that Sadbhawna rallies were being organized not for any political purpose but for promoting ethos of peace and communal harmony in the state.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister said that Sangat Darshan was a flagship program of his government, whose sole motive was to give boost to development in the state by virtually bringing the government at the doorsteps of people. He said that there was no political agenda of this program as it was totally aimed at the welfare of the people. Mr. Badal said that no other state government in the country undertakes such a comprehensive exercise for welfare of the public.Prominent amongst other present on the occasion included Lok Sabha MP Jathedar Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, Chairman District Planning Committee Mr. Ravinder Singh Brahmpura, SGPC Member Jathedar Alwinderpal Singh Pakhoke, Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. KJS Cheema, Inspector General of Police Mr. Lok Nath Angra, Deputy Inspector General of Police Kunwar Vijay Pratap and Deputy Commissioner Mr. BS Dhaliwal.