Why did Sukhbir Singh Badal call Congress an anti-national, Khalistan supporting party?
Accusing the Congress Party of being an 'anti-national' organisation, Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on Saturday said that the grand old party is creating an alliance with the terrorist organizations, having links with Pakistan's ISI, just for the sake of political gains.
What are his allegations?
- Congress leaders shared stage with radical and separatist elements at a recent gathering in Amritsar, where demand for Khalistan was raked up.
- Under Rahul Gandhi's leadership Congress was trying to create the same environment in Punjab that it suffered during the years of militancy in the 70s and the 80s.
"Everyone knows how it started and in order to fight Akali Dal, the Congress encouraged certain elements which then went out of control and that led to full 15 years of disturbance in Punjab which even threatened the nation's integrity. Today, Congress under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi is trying to create the same environment in the state of Punjab."
- Rahul Gandhi, he alleged, went to Punjab and encouraged radical elements at a time when Pakistan's ISI is already on the lookout to foment trouble.
- He named the Congress leaders who were allegedly present at the 'Sarbat Khalsa' or Sikh religious congregation, that appointed the convict in Beant Singh assassination case as 'jathedar' or chief priest of Akal Takht.
He said Ramanjit Singh Sikki is known to be close to former CM and Congress leader Amarinder Singh and another Congress leader Inderjit Singh Zira.
"The Congress is trying to distance itself from the congregation. If they were not part of it, why have they taken no action against Congress leaders who were on stage and provided support" questioned Badal.
Videos on social media show Congress leaders directing separatists about what to say and that they have provided other support for the gathering.
Badal, who is the chief of Punjab's ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal), met President Pranab Mukherjee with a host of demands.
What are his demands?
- Action should be taken against Congress and the party should be "derecognised".
- Initiate a judicial probe into the killing of two persons in recent protests over alleged desecration of Guru Granth Sahib.
Are the "Sarbat Khalsa" and protests against desecration of Guru Granth Sahib incidents related?
Not really. The protests were related to the several instances of desecration the Sikh Holy book.
The Sarbat Khalsa was organised by radical sikh groups like Dal Khalsa and Panch Pardani earlier this month. They said they will not allow Akal Takht Jathedar (chief) Gaini Gubachan Singh to address the Sikh Sangat (community) on Bandi Chorr Divas. There, they passed a resolution, seeking dismissal of the Sikh high priests, including the Akal Takht jathedar.
They appointed the convict in Beant Singh assassination case as 'jathedar' or chief priest of Akal Takht.
Why did they want the jathedar removed?
For their recent act of announcing pardon for controversial Dera Sacha Sauda sect chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. Gurmeet Ram Rahim was accused of committing blasphemy in 2007 by the Sikh clergy for attiring himself as the tenth Sikh Guru, Gobind Singh, during a religious congregation.
What is Congress' reaction?
The Congress has denied all charges.
Sarbat Khalsa is not political,one of our MLAs who went had resigned as Congress MLA,other went in individual capacity-Amarinder Singh
- ANI (@ANI_news) November 21, 2015
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