Badal no ‘thekedar’ of Sikhs: Capt
NURMAHAL: The ongoing war of words between the Congress and Akali leaders over control of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee reached a flashpoint with Punjab Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh lambasting Shiromani Akali Dal patron and chief minister Parkash Singh Badal for allegedly assuming himself to be a “thekedar” (contractor) of Sikhism.
“Badal has been assuming himself to be a “thekedar” (contractor) of the Sikh religion. He has developed a habit of misleading the community at regular intervals on the pretext that the “Panth” is in danger. This will not work now as the Sikh community understands that these are Badal’s tactics to use Sikh shrines for political gains,” Amarinder, who was here to participate in a peace function organised by Divya Jyoti Jagriti Sansthan, alleged.
Justifying the amendment in the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Act, 1971, Amarinder said Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit had advised Badal to “mind his own business rather than interfering into the DSGMC affairs”.
“Badal should take care of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) affairs in Punjab. There are separate management committees in Patna, Nanded Sahib and Delhi. He has no business to interfere in any of these,” Amarinder claimed.
On the deployment of Punjab Police personnel with SAD (Badal) leaders based in Delhi, Amarinder alleged that the Akali leaders, acquiring strength from the Punjab Police security, had dared to carry out “hooliganism” in the Rakabganj gurdwara. “Had there been any threat to such Akali leaders, the Delhi Police would have provided them the cover,” he added. He alleged that the SAD government had engineered “administrative terrorism” in the state to force Congressmen into joining the Akali Dal.