CM Assails Goi And Congress For Meddling In The Religious Affairs Of Sikhs

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Sri Anandpur Sahib , 17 Nov 2012

Punjab Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal today warned the Government of India (GoI) and Congress not to interfere in the religious affairs of Sikhs because any such ill conceived move could vitiate the peaceful atmosphere in the state and the country. Talking to the media persons on the sidelines of the annual athletic meet of Sri Dashmesh Academy here today, the Chief Minister said that he had already apprised the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh regarding the unfortunate violent attack on the members of Delhi unit of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) by the task force of the Sarna group at Gurudwara Sri Rakabganj Sahib on Thursday. He asked the Centre as well as Congress leadership to desist from such politically motivated tactics by deliberately delaying the general elections of the Delhi Sikh Gurudara Management Committee (DSGMC) in contravention to the clear cut orders of Supreme Court to hold these elections positively by December 31, 2012. Mr Badal cautioned the Centre if tomorrow situation gets out hand then the entire onus would be on them. Slamming the Delhi government for being hand in glove with DSGMC Chief Paramjeet Singh Sarna, the Chief Minister said that it was unfortunate and unjustified on its part to pave a way for direct elections to the President of DSGMC as this provision was nowhere in vogue be it the election of President of India, Prime Minister, Chief Minister and even Panchayats. Mr Badal categorically said that all this was being done with a sole motive to aid the ruling Congress to recapture the power in forthcoming assembly elections. Referring to the verbal spat between the Health Minister Mr Madan Mohan Mittal and Chief Parliamentary Secretary Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu over the recent sting operation to nab the government doctors indulging in private practice, the Chief Minister said that both of them have amicably resolved the issue. Mincing no words Mr Badal said that whosoever, influential he or she may be, indulging in any malpractice or any wrong doing should not be spared in the public interest and should be punished in accordance with the law.Reiterating SAD stand on FDI in multi-retail sector, the Chief Minister said, “They are against it from the day one because anything which suits a particular economy doesn’t mean that it will be beneficial to other”. He cited the example of American economy where FDI was successful on the contrary it can’t be replicated in India because it would ruin the petty shopkeepers and small traders. Reminding a classic example of British East India Company, Mr Badal said that they came in the guise of traders and plundered our economy resulting in the decay of indigenous industry and consequently ruled the country for over a period of 200 years. He said we should draw lessons from the past and must oppose it tooth and nail as it would adversely impact our local trade and industry. Taking a cue from multinational companies like Coca Cola and Pepsi, the Chief Minister said FDI would wipe out the local industry and trade as these International beverages conglomerates decimated the local soft drink companies. Replying to another query, the Chief Minister said that the Congress MPs from Punjab had got considerable share in the Union Ministry with four Ministers, who should now mount pressure on the GoI for seeking more developmental projects and schemes in the state to usher in an era of all-round growth and prosperity. Mr Badal said Punjab had been a target of blatant neglect by the Centre as no major public sector project came to the state and now the people of state were keeping their hopes high on these newly inducted/elevated ministers in Union Council of Ministers to cherish their aspirations. He hoped that the long pending Rail link between Sri Anandpur Sahib and Garhshankar could also see light at the end of the tunnel. Earlier addressing the students of Sri Dashmesh Academy the Chief Minister, who is the Chairman of the Dashmesh Academy Trust, said that this prestigious Academy would soon come up as one of the leading residential public schools in the country. Mr Badal said since its inception way back in 1978, when its foundation stone was laid by the then President of India Mr N. Sanjeeva Reddy, this state of the art academy was his dream project adding that he was still passionately involved in it to bring it at the zenith. He emphasized on the need to impart preparatory training to the students on the pattern of National Defence Academy (NDA) to enable them to join Armed forces. On the occasion Chief Minister gave away prizes and trophies to the winners of Athletic meet besides inaugurating the exhibition. Prominent amongst those present on the occasion included Cabinet Minister Mr Surjeet Singh Rakhra, Rajya Sabha MP Mr Balwinder Singh Bhunder, MLA Ropar Dr Daljeet Singh Cheema Special Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Mr KJS Cheema, Deputy Commissioner Mr PK Aggarwal and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Mr Inder Mohan Singh. Besides the director of Academy Major General (Retd.) JS Ghuman, Principal Colonel (Retd.) Amarjeet Singh and members of the trust including Air Marshall (Retd.) MM Singh, Captain AJS Grewal and Advocate Mr IP Singh were also present.