Petty politics takes centrestage at Kartarpur corridor ceremony
Cong, SAD run down each other in VP Naidu’s presence; foundation stone removed after minister Randhawa objects to names of Badals on plaque; Capt bats for visafree access to pilgrims
Bitter political rivalry between the ruling Congress and the opposition Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) marred the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Kartarpur gurdwara corridor project at Mann village here on Monday.
The political slugfest was played out by senior leaders of the two parties, who have been sparring over credit for the monumental decision of India and Pakistan to build the corridor, in the presence of vice president M Venkaiah Naidu, Punjab governor VP Singh Badnore and chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh.
Naidu had to lay the digital foundation stone of the road project (on the Indian side) that will link Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur with Kartarpur Sahib gurdwara in Pakistan, by pressing a button. The actual foundation stone was removed after cooperation minister and local MLA Sukhjinder Randhawa objected to the names of Akali leaders, former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal and Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal, on the plaque.
RANDHAWA PUTS BLACK TAPES ON PLAQUE
Controversy erupted even before the event began as a livid Randhawa lashed out at officers of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), who had made arrangements for the ceremony, for putting names of the Badals on foundation stone. He first threatened to boycott the event, alleging gross violation of protocol, and then put black tape to conceal the names of Amarinder, public works department minister Vijay Inder Singla and his own on the plaque. “I cannot see my name and those of my ministerial colleagues along with the Badals. They (Badals) have no contribution in getting the corridor project cleared,” he said.
Taken aback, NHAI officials replaced the foundation stone with the digital one that carried the names of Naidu, Badnore, Amarinder and Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari. At one stage, Randhawa was also seen standing in front of Naidu and Amarinder and gesticulating angrily.
Sparks flew during the ceremony with Harsimrat and Punjab Congress president and Gurdaspur MP Sunil Jakhar raising contentious issues that did not mend well with the solemnity of the occasion. Harsimrat, in her speech, took a potshot at the Congress over the 1984 anti-Sikh massacre without directly naming the party, triggering sloganeering by supporters of the ruling party in the state.
Jakhar, while presenting the vote of thanks, got even with the SAD leaders by raising the drug issue. Akali supporters, led by Harsimrat’s brother and former minister Bikram Singh Majithia, immediately broke into sloganeering. Harsimrat raised an objection and had to be calmed down by central ministers, Gadkari and Vijay Sampla. Randhawa and some Congress supporters also started raising slogans of ‘Sat Sri Akal’, making the situation tense. Earlier, Sant Samaj chief Sarabjot Singh Bedi, who is opposed to the Badals and seen to be pro-Congress, also staged a walkout when Harsimrat started her address.
SIDHU STAYS AWAY
Punjab tourism minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, who had brought the Kartarpur corridor issue into limelight during his visit to Pakistan for the swearing-in of Imran Khan as Prime Minister three months ago, stayed away from the ceremony. The minister, who was campaigning for the Congress in Madhya Pradesh, flew back and visited the ‘darshan asthal’ in Dera Baba Nanak instead for a glimpse of the Kartarpur Sahib gurdwara in Narowal district of Pakistan through binoculars installed for the purpose.
Meanwhile, Amarinder said visa-free access should be provided to pilgrims visiting the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur through the corridor. He announced that he will accompany the first “jatha” from the corridor to Kartarpur