Strongly Condemning the desecration of holy Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji at various places in the state, Union Minister for Food Processing Industry and Bathinda Member Parliament, Harsimrat Kaur Badal today appealed to Punjabis to remain vigilant and maintain peace and communal harmony in the state at all costs.Badal, who returned on Monday from an official visit to Germany, in a press statement issued here also assured the people that she was one with them in their hour of grief and joined them in demanding the harshest possible punishment for those who desecrated the holy book.Pointing out to the repetitive nature of the desecrations, Mrs Badal said it was clear that some external agencies were trying to destabilise the Punjab government. She urged the people to be vigilant against such forces besides warning them to beware of rumour mongers and false information being spread by mischievous elements.
Mrs Badal also urged the people to have trust in the Punjab government which was set to apprehend the accused. She also urged for organising Akhand Paths to express grief over the incidents of desecration.Speaking about herself, Mrs Badal said “Being a humble and devout Sikh, my sentiments have been deeply outraged by recent desecrations of Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji and subsequent happenings have left me emotionally shattered". She also reminded the people that to err his human and that only the almighty was invincible who did not make any mistake. " I pray to the almighty to ensure there is no break in the peace and communal brotherhood in Punjab", she added.The Minister assured that those behind the incident would be dealt with severely as per the law. “These sacrilegious acts are an unpardonable offence and no one associated with this ghastly crime will be spared at any cost. She also exhorted the people of Punjab to prevent incidents of sacrilege of religious places across the cities and towns by remaining vigilant to ensure that the conspiracy did not succeed.