CM FLAYS ROAD BLOCKADE AS PROTEST: ‘THINK OF SOLDIERS’
CHANDIGARH:CHIEF minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Monday called upon all political parties to resolve not to block highways but to find other ways to protest. Talking to mediapersons a day after he tweeted his unhappiness at the way the Shiromani Akali Dal led by Sukhbir Singh Badal laid siege to highways over an incident of political violence in Ferozepur, Amarinder said that any form of protest that causes inconvenience to citizens cannot be termed democratic, and that blocking national highways is a crime.
He warned that nobody would be allowed to break the law in Punjab and anyone doing so would have to face the consequences. By saying this, Amarinder justified the cases registered by name against the SAD president, MLAS and MPS among others.
“Military convoys could not move and essential supplies could not reach the soldiers, standing guard at the borders, in time, due to this ill-thought and abhorrent decision of the Akalis to sit on dharnas over a complete non-issue,” claimed Amarinder.
“The Akalis did not even take cognisance of the problems that blocking of highways would cause to pilgrims visiting the Golden Temple — the world’s most visited religious site — even though they claim to be the guardians of the Sikh religion,” the CM pointed out.
“The fact is that the Akalis are completely down and out, with no hope for their revival in the near term,” said Amarinder, adding that “no political party can survive without putting the interests of the people above their own political interests”.
ANNOUNCEMENT MADE ON SGPC POLL EVE
The announcement to celebrate the occasion at the Golden Temple was made by party president Sukhbir Badal during a meeting with Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak (SGPC) members on the eve of the Sikh body’s elections.
On Tuesday, Akhand Path of Guru Granth Sahib will be initiated at the Manji Sahib Diwan Hall in the Golden Temple complex and a bhog ceremony will be held on December 14.
It will be followed by a religious function to be attended by the party’s chief patron, former CM Parkash Singh Badal, Sukhbir Singh Badal and other senior leaders from Punjab and other states.
“This function will be the part of the preparations for the celebrations of the 100th foundation day in 2020. The 100th foundation will be celebrated on a large scale at the Manji Sahib
‘PARTY HAS LOST EVERYTHING’
Political commentators are looking at the move as SAD playing religious card to regain its panthic stronghold.
Even the invitation card sent to religious figures reads that a ‘panthic discussion’ will be held during the function.
“Celebrating the foundation day is a good move, but the party is doing so when it has lost everything and it could not even become the main opposition in the Punjab assembly,” said Manjit Singh Calcutta, an Akali veteran.
“During the past 20 years, the party has been under the dominance of the Badals and its base cannot be revived until innerparty democracy is not reinstated,” he said.