DW BUREAU / Longowal

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal today said Punjab was suffering because successive central governments had refused to cede the just demands of the State including restoration of its River water rights and transfer of Chandigarh and Punjabi speaking areas.

Paying glowing tributes to Sant Harchand Singh Longowal at a mammoth conference held here to commemorate his martyrdom, the SAD president said "Sant ji made the supreme sacrifice for the cause of Punjab but was betrayed by the centre which refused to implement the promises made to him as well as the people of the State". He said even now Sant Longowal was being betrayed by both the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) which had both compromised the State's stand on its River waters as well as transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab. In an eloquent speech, Mr Sukhbir Badal while speaking from his heart said "it is time that the Sikh quom recognizes its own and identifies traitors like Bhagwant Singh Mann who is not ready to speak against Dera Sirsa head Gurmeet Ram Raheem or even give sanction for the latter's prosecution under section 295-A. He also asked people to think about the massive mandate they had given to Bhagwant Mann, adding "he forsook you after becoming chief minister and never visited you when your fields were flooded or even otherwise". Urging people to reject those who were trying to weaken the Panth, the SAD president said "you have listened to Bandi Singh Bhai Gurdeep Singh Khera yesterday. It is very much clear as to who should be released from jail first - persons like Bhai Gurdeep Singh Khera, Balwant Singh Rajona and Devinderpal Singh Bhullar who have been incarcerated for terms as long as 30 years or those who have been detained since one year only". Asserting that a person who had been in jail for one year could not lead the Panth, Mr Badal said "I do not want a repeat of the circumstances which led to the martyrdom of Sant Longowal". He asserted that Khera had also exposed the so-called Panthic leaders like Simranjit Singh Mann who had used the Panth to further their own interests and done nothing for the community.

Stating that everyone was targeting the SAD because they knew that if this was done the Sikh quom would be weakened, Mr Badal said "this is why after the SAD was weakened the Shiromani Committee was broken and a separate Gurdwara Committee was made for Haryana". He said subsequently the Sri Hazur Sahib Committee was also taken over by the government and the Delhi Committee by the RSS and BJP. He said the same was happening with the Muslim community because its leadership had been weakened. "No one interfered in the religious affairs of the Sikh community when the SAD was strong and we need to unite to ensure this interference stops". Urging the people to take a vow to strengthen the SAD, Mr Badal said this would be the most appropriate homage to Sant Longowal. He also assured the historic gathering that he would never compromise the principles of the SAD come what may.

Speaking on the occasion, SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami spoke about how repeated instances of sacrilege of Sri Guru Granth Sahib were occurring in the State but the AAP government was not doing anything to unmask the conspiracy behind the same. Former SGPC president Gobind Singh Longowal paid glowing tributes to Sant Longowal by highlighting the latter's role in leading the Morcha during the period of Emergency. Dr Daljit Singh Cheema appealed to the people to support the SAD president in his efforts to stand for federalism and the Panth and Punjab without any greed for power.
(editor@dailyworld.in)