Hindustan Times (Chandigarh)

CAA row: Amarinder asks Sukhbir to read ‘Mein Kampf’, SAD chief hits back

- HT Correspond­ent

Given the govt’s attempts to replicate Hitler’s agenda in India, it is important for SAD leaders to read his autobiogra­phy before coming out with irrational reactions on CAA.

CAPT AMARINDER SINGH,

PUNJAB CHIEF MINISTER

I will send across books written by prominent Sikh scholars detailing how Congress planned the attack on Harmandir Sahib as well as mass killing of Sikhs in Delhi.

SUKHBIR SINGH BADAL, Shiromani Akali Dal president

CHANDIGARH: Questionin­g Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal’s logic in interpreti­ng his criticism of the Citizenshi­p Amendment Act (CAA) being “anti-sikh”, chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Wednesday sent him a copy of ‘Mein Kampf’, advising him to read Adolf Hitler’s autobiogra­phy to understand the dangerous implicatio­ns of the unconstitu­tional legislatio­n passed by the central government, of which the Akalis are a part.

The SAD chief was quick to hit back saying Amarinder has once again chosen the Gandhi family over the Sikh community by refusing to clarify if he was in favour of giving relief to persecuted Sikhs under the CAA.

“Why has the CM had chosen to learn his history lessons from Mein Kampf and not dozens of books written by Sikhs recounting the state-sponsored Congress programmes detailing attack on Harmandir Sahib and genocide of Sikhs in Delhi in 1984,” said the SAD chief.

The CM said: “Given the attempts by the Centre to replicate Hitler’s agenda in India, it was important for the SAD leaders to read the former German chancellor’s autobiogra­phy before coming out with irrational reactions on the CAA.”

“I urge Sukhbir to read the book and decide whether it’s the country first or political expediency. Supporting the bill in both Houses of Parliament and in the Vidhan Sabha and opposing it on other platforms is unbecoming of a political leader,” Amarinder said after writing a letter the SAD chief which was sent along with the book.

The CM also asked him to explain how his demand for the Akalis to quit NDA over CAA amounted to “subservien­ce” to the Gandhi family. “Or are you trying to say that the lakhs of people out on the streets to protest against CAA are doing so simply out of subservien­ce to the Gandhi family,” he asked Sukhbir.

Retorting to Sukhbir’s ‘saving his chair’ jab, the CM said his chair was quite secure. “But apparently, you are worried about your wife Harsimrat’s chair in the Union cabinet and do not want her to lose that at any cost,” quipped Amarinder, adding that this could be the reason for SAD refusing to walk out of NDA despite claiming to take a stand against CAA.

Reacting to the letter, Sukhbir said he will soon send across a bundle of books written by prominent Sikh scholars detailing how the Congress and its first family had planned and engineered the attack on the Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar as well as mass killing of Sikhs in Delhi and elsewhere

“I am sure these books will refresh your memory and remove the selective amnesia which has clouded your mind. Please do give the books space in your library and read them also. You will never again give inane suggestion­s to anyone. This gift of books could also force you to have a change of mind and forsake servility towards the Gandhi family and make you more sensitive towards the suffering of your own community,” he said.

THE COMPLAINAN­T, A LUDHIANA-BASED RTI ACTIVIST, HAS CLAIMED THAT PROMOTING GUN CULTURE AND VIOLENCE IS A VIOLATION OF THE PUNJAB AND HARYANA HIGH COURT ORDER

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