Maghi Mela today, SAD, radicals to hold conferences

THE CONGRESS AND THE AAP ARE STAYING AWAY FROM HOLDING ANY RALLIES

MUKTSAR : The Badals-led Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the SAD (Amritsar) led by Simranjit Singh Mann are set to hold political conferences on the Maghi Mela on Monday, even as there are voices against holding such rallies at a religious fair. Other parties like the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) are not holding conferences.

The Maghi Mela is one of Punjab’s major fairs and marks the Battle of Muktsar in 1705, where 40 Sikh warriors laid down their lives for Guru Gobind Singh while fighting the Mughals. Over the years, it has also become a platform for political rallies.

Muktsar MLA Kanwarjeet Singh Rozy Barkandi said, “SAD holds the rally every year. The Akal Takht edict not to hold a conference was only meant for Fatehgarh Sahib. We have made seating arrangements for more than 35,000 people. Senior SAD leadership will be present. The Congress leadership has failed to fulfil poll promises and is hence making excuses not to hold a rally.”

BJP district president, Rajesh Gora Pathela said, “Tikshan Sood will attend the rally on our behalf.”

SAD (A) general secretary Jaskaran Singh Kahan Singh Wala said: “We will discuss religious, political, social and economic issues of Punjab at the rally. We appeal to people to attend in large numbers. Simranjit Singh Mann will address the public. After Muktsar. we will also hold a rally at Takhtupura in Moga.”

Former Muktsar Congress MLA Karan Kaur Brar said, “We are not holding a political conference at the Maghi Mela and our two ministers, Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa and Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria, will pay obeisance.”

‘PUNJAB DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE WILL CONTEST ON ALL 13 SEATS’

Lok Insaaf Party chief Simarjeet Singh Bains also visited Muktsar on the eve of the Maghi Mela on Sunday. Bains also organised a cleanliness drive. Bains said that Punjab Democratic Alliance, comprising his party, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), suspended AAP MP Dr Dharamvira Gandhi and other ‘like-minded parties’, will contest on all 13 Lok Sabha seats in the general elections.

“We are in talks with several parties including leaders of SAD (Taksali) and the BSP,” he added.

“Phoolka is working for a noble cause. AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal is not serious about the issues of Punjab. People of the state need a change,” he claimed.