Akalis protest ‘ distortion’ of Sikh history

■ Senior leaders taken into custody after clash with police

Senior Shiromani Akali Dal leaders were taken into preventive custody after they clashed with the police while protesting against the “distortion” of Sikh history in school textbooks. Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal, former minister Bikram Singh Majithia and MP Balwinder Singh Bhunder were among the Akali leaders placed under preventive

◗ The Punjab CM slammed the Akalis for unnecessarily creating a law and order problem over the issue of school history books

detention while protesting outside chief minister Capt. Amarinder Singh’s residence.

The protesters tried to break down the barricades set up outside the chief minister’s residence. Initially, the police failed to stop the marchers. Later, the police parked buses in front of them, leading to a scuffle with top Akali leaders.

Speaking to the media, Sukhbir Badal said the SAD was ready to pay any sacrifice to protect the honour and dignity of Guru Sahiban as well as Sikh religion and culture. He said the Congress government had deliberately distorted Sikh history for the second time in months to change it in such a manner that the coming generations did not take pride in the rich heritage. He said that the SAD would not rest till those who had prepared the defamatory matter.

Meanwhile, Capt Singh lambasted the Akalis for unnecessarily creating a law and order problem over the issue even after the government had categorically clarified that the new course books would not be introduced until the expert group set up to review them completed its task.