SGPC too jumps on protest bandwagon, flays Capt govt
Congress leaders are trying to take illegal possession of SGPCrun gurdwaras... (We) will not tolerate the govt taking part in antiSikh activities. KIRPAL SINGH BADUNGAR, SGPC president
PATIALA/AMRITSAR: Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandakh Committee (SGPC) president Kirpal Singh Badungar joined the Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party protest against the Congress government in Patiala on Monday.
The two opposition allies are protesting against the state government for its failure to fulfil pre-poll promises, include farm debt waiver, and alleged impropriety in sand mine auctions.
The significance of the SGPC being drafted into this protest lies in the change of tack by Akalis, who are getting back to the ‘panthic’ agenda to connect with the Sikh constituency that deserted them in the assembly elections.
“The Congress government seems to be running away from its poll promises,” said Badungar, addressing the gathering. “After the sand mining auction scam, Congress leaders are now trying to take illegal possession of SGPC-run gurdwaras across the state.”
Citing the example of Gurdwara Bhai Rupa in Bathinda, where Congress workers allegedly tried to acquire “highly valuable land” of the Sikh shrine, Badungar said the SGPC will not tolerate the state government involving in anti-Sikh activities.
“Though the SGPC has no direct conflict with the state government, if it tried to interfere in SGPC matters, we will continue to protest against it,” he said.
‘DEVELOPMENT HAS COME TO STANDSTILL’
Former cabinet minister and SAD general secretary Surjit Singh Rakhra accused the Congress government of halting all development projects initiated by the previous SAD-BJP government.
“Even the financial grants provided for development projects were cancelled,” said Rakhra. “The tall claims of farm loan waiver have fallen flat in three months, while the promise of giving a job in every household is yet to see the light of day.”
Sanaur MLA Harinderpal Singh Chandumajra said the government has put brakes on welfare programmes like Atta-Dal scheme as well.
“The SAD not let the government run away from the promises made to the people of Punjab,” he said.
SGPC members also joined the dharna led by former revenue minister Bikram Singh Majithia in Amritsar.
“By displaying liquor ads on LED screens near Darbar Sahib, the Congress has exposed its antiSikh approach,” said SGPC member Bhai Ram Singh. “Cabinet minister Navjot Singh Sidhu has also hurt Sikh sentiments by terming Virasat-e-Khalsa a white elephant. This has forced us to up the ante against the state government.”
Majithia, who has been at loggerheads with Sidhu, dared the cricketer-turned-politician to speak against his cabinet colleague Rana Gurjit Singh — who is embroiled in the sand mine auction row — if he had “an iota of honesty” left in him.