Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab State Media Incharge Baltej Pannu on Friday criticised Shiromani Akali Dal Chief Sukhbir Singh Badal over his announcement of launching a “Dharam Yudh Morcha”, saying the Akali Dal has once again exposed its politics of deception as the much-publicised agitation now appears to have been quietly abandoned.
Addressing a press conference, AAP Punjab Media In-charge Baltej Pannu said, “Nearly a month ago, Sukhbir Singh Badal dramatically announced that after offering Ardas at Sri Akal Takht Sahib, the Akali Dal would launch a Dharam Yudh Morcha on July 19. However, with only two days left, the party has neither made any preparations nor announced any programme.”
“Those who grew up eating pizza and coke are now talking about launching a Dharam Yudh without even understanding what such a historic movement means. Leaders who have actually participated in such movements know the immense groundwork, public mobilisation and commitment required before announcing one,” he added.
Baltej Pannu said, “The Akali Dal has conveniently forgotten its own promise. Even during the party’s recent core committee meeting, there was no discussion whatsoever about the proposed Dharam Yudh Morcha. It appears they assumed the people of Punjab would also forget that they had made such a grand announcement.”
He further said, “The proposed Morcha was never a serious movement but merely another attempt to mislead the people and create unnecessary political confrontation against CM Bhagwant Singh Mann.” Baltej Pannu said, “The Akali Dal has a long history of misleading Punjabis.
During its governments between 2007 and 2017, the party pushed Punjab into the drug crisis, allowing ‘chitta’ to spread across the state and destroy an entire generation of youth. This pattern of deception dates back even further. The Badal family has been misleading Punjabis since the 1990s.
Parkash Singh Badal promised a ‘Truth Commission’ but, after forming the government, conveniently forgot about it.” Referring to the 2015 sacrilege incidents, Baltej Pannu said, “How can the Akali Dal now claim to fight for justice when every major development in the case occurred during its own government?
The theft of Guru Sahib’s saroop took place under the Akali government.” The AAP Punjab Media In-charge pointed out, “The subsequent sacrilege incidents also occurred during its tenure.
When devotees peacefully protested at Kotkapura and Behbal Kalan demanding justice, it was the Akali government that responded with police action. The firing at Behbal Kalan also happened under the Badal government, and evidence related to the sacrilege cases was systematically destroyed during the same period.”
Baltej Pannu further said, “After the chargesheet was filed in 2020, leaders of the Akali Dal sought bail in the case. Former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal was among those who secured bail through the Faridkot court.”
Quoting observations made by the Faridkot court, Baltej Pannu said, “The judge recorded that Sukhbir Singh Badal, despite being aware of the third sacrilege incident on October 12, 2015 and the growing anger among the Sikh Sangat, deliberately left for Gurugram and later used his absence as an excuse to avoid responsibility for the illegal police action carried out under the then DGP Sumedh Singh Saini.
These observations expose the conduct of the Akali leadership during one of Punjab’s darkest chapters. While peaceful protesters were being fired upon, the Akali leadership continued misleading the people instead of delivering justice.”
Baltej Pannu also recalled the treatment meted out to those seeking justice in earlier years. He said, “After the Badal government came to power in 1996, a case was registered against the wife of the late human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, Bibi Paramjit Kaur Khalra.
Again, after returning to power in 2007, the Akali government registered fresh cases against the Khalra family and activist Ranjit Singh. An international human rights organisation had also written to the Badal government, asking it to stop the harassment of the Khalra Committee.”
Baltej Pannu asserted, “It is ironic that Sukhbir Badal is today speaking about the seriousness of the 2015 sacrilege incidents when it was his own government that failed to protect religious sentiments and allowed evidence to be destroyed instead of ensuring justice. If the Akali Dal has repeatedly claimed that a Dharam Yudh Morcha will begin on July 19, why has it not even announced its programme, strategy or the names of those who will lead the agitation or offer the first arrests?”
Concluding his remarks, Baltej Pannu said, “Sukhbir Badal believes that he can continue misleading the people of Punjab through dramatic announcements and emotional slogans. The people of Punjab have seen through these tactics.
During all the years the Badal family remained in power, they focused on expanding their own wealth and filled the Cabinet with their relatives instead of working for the welfare of the people.”