SAD starts sit-in, gives govt two days to apologise, arrest ‘guilty’
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Thursday started a 48-hour dharna in Amritsar against the alleged distortion of Sikh history in the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB)’s Class 12 textbook, asking the Congress government in the state to apologise and arrest the guilty.
The dharna, which has support of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), comes despite the state government having withdrawn the new history textbook prepared by a group of experts and ordering PSEB to follow the book from the previous session.
After performing ‘ardas’ at the Akal Takht, the Akali workers led by party president Sukhbir Singh Badal marched towards the sit-in venue near the Golden Temple. The sit-in was held in a Panthic style with ‘dhadis’
We will not let anyone claim that Guru Arjan Dev was not martyred and was merely fined or that Guru Gobind Singh quietly left the battlefield at Chamkaur Sahib. SUKHBIR SINGH BADAL, SAD chief
(traditional singers of ballads of war heroes) singing to mobilise the workers for the cause of dharna. Even as there was a sizeable gathering of SAD workers at the Akal Takht, the number was reduced to almost half at the dharna venue.
SGPC president Gobind Singh Longowal will sit on dharna after 24 hours, it was learnt.
Accusing the Amarinder Singh-led government of denigrating the Sikh Gurus and committing sacrilege, Sukhbir said they have given it 48 hours to take action or face a mass stir.
He demanded FIR against those who prepared and distributed the distorted history books and their and arrest.
“The history was distorted as part of a Congress conspiracy to ensure future generations do not take pride in their heritage. This was done with the backing of the Gandhi family. We will not let this conspiracy to succeed. We will not let anyone claim that Guru Arjan Dev was not martyred and was merely “fined” or that Guru Gobind Singh “quietly” left the battlefield at Chamkaur Sahib,” Sukhbir said.
Akali leaders Nirmal Singh Kahlon, Gulzar Singh Ranike, Bibi Jagir Kaur, Bikram Singh Majithia, Bhai Manjit Singh, Veer Singh Lopoke, Pawan Kumar Tinu, Gurpartap Wadala, Lakhbir Singh Lodhinangal, Satpal Mal, Vardev Mann and Gurpartap Singh Tikka were present.