Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has lashed out at Sukhbir Singh Badal for his totally unwarranted and politically motivated allegations against him on the Amritsar grenade attack incident, and has accused the SAD president of playing with the religious sentiments of the people for promoting vested interests.Reacting sharply to Sukhbir’s blatantly false and unsubstantiated accusation that he (Captain Amarinder Singh) was responsible for the grenade attack, the Chief Minister said the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief, in his desperate bid to divert attention from the SIT probe against him in the Bargari sacrilege case, was resorting to cheap and petty politicking.Pointing out that Bargari was the creation of the Badals-led SAD, Captain Amarinder Singh said his government was trying to clean up the mess and the SIT formed by it was investigating the matter thoroughly. Clearly cornered by these investigations, Sukhbir was indulging in frivolous political games, said the Chief Minister, lambasting the Akali president for his thoughtless and frivolous statements on a serious issue, which had the potential of once again plunging Punjab into the dark days of terrorism.Captain Amarinder Singh expressed shock at the repeated attempts of the Badals to exploit religion to divide the people of the state, unmindful of the devastating effects this could have in the long term.
While his government was going all out to fight radical and extremist elements, which were trying to destabilize the state at the behest of ISI-backed Khalistani and Kashmiri terrorist groups, the Akalis were indulging in politics over the serious issue, he lamented.It was typical of the Badals, said the Chief Minister, to use religion to further their personal and political ambitions. And this trait had assumed grave proportions since they were unceremoniously ousted from power by the people of Punjab, who had seen through their deceitful games and voted en masse against them, he added.Captain Amarinder Singh also came down heavily on Sukhbir for targetting the Gandhi family and seeking to hold them responsible for the recent incidents involving terrorist forces in Punjab. It was ridiculous to even contemplate that the Gandhis, who had been the worst victims of terrorism in the country, could think of promoting or encouraging radical forces in any way, said the Chief Minister. Sukhbir’s allegations against the Gandhis smacked of sheer desperation and frustration at the complete alienation of the Badals, not just at the hands of the people but also by senior Akali leaders, he added.The Chief Minister warned Sukhbir against playing with fire by undermining the growing threat of revival of terrorism backed by cross-border forces. This was not the time for any political party or leader to play politics over the issue but to join hands with the government in fighting the menace and protecting Punjab from the renewed threat of revival of terrorism, he stressed.