SAD attempts to revive base on religious front

Sukhbir Badal mobilises support to hold protest on November 3 in New Delhi to seek justice for the antiSikh riot victims

AMRITSAR: After being beleaguered on multiple religious issues, including Bargari sacrilege episode and apology granted to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim in 2015, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) is trying to revive itself on religious front.

To discuss the same, a meeting chaired by SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal, was held with the party legislatures and office bearers of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) at Bhai Gurdas Hall on Saturday.

The party has planned to raise the Class-12 history book issue to corner the ruling Congress besides aiming to ensure a huge gathering during the protest slated on November 3 at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi to seek justice for the anti-Sikh riot victims. Badal exhorted the SGPC members and office bearers to ensure presence of maximum members.

The Akalis have demanded immediate arrest of all committee members who authored and passed chapters of Class-12 Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) history book besides registration of a case against chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh who instituted the expert committee.

Sukhbir Singh Badal said, “The Congress government has neither taken action against the erring committee nor withdrawn the objectionable matter as of now.” The Akali leaders demanded registration of a criminal case against PSEB chairman Manohar Kant Kalohia for hurting religious sentiments of the Sikh community.

Demanding immediate withdrawal of the new Class-12 book and its five chapters, Badal said, “Releasing the new book is an attempt to distort historical facts related to the Sikh history. The Congress government is misleading youths and presenting wrong facts about the Sikh religion.”

Sukhbir said, “Even facts about the martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev were distorted.”

Party spokesperson Daljit Singh Cheema said that a meeting of SAD core committee will be held on November 29 regarding the same.

SGPC members including president Gobind Singh Longowal, senior Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia, district presidents and other leaders were also present.

The government has neither taken action against the committee nor withdrawn the objectionable matter from Class 12 history book. SUKHBIR SINGH BADAL, SAD president