NewZNew (Bathinda) : BLAMING THE Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for their evil designs to create unrest in Punjab, Shiromnai Akali Dal President and Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal cautioned the people of the state to beware of the cheap political gimmickry of both these parties on emotional issues, which is detrimental for the hard earned peace and communal harmony of the state .
Mr. Badal was addressing a jam packed meeting of Akali workers at a local palace to mobilise the party rank and file for the first Sadbhawna Rally being held at Bathinda on November 23.
Asserting that some forces “inimical” to the progress of Punjab were hell bent upon destroying the hard earned peace of the state, he said, “These forces will be exposed before the people so that they are not able to succeed in their nefarious designs against the state.”
Coming down heavily on Congress and AAP terming the duo as the ‘two sides of a coin’, Mr. Badal said that the time has come when the anti Punjab, Punjabi and Punjabiat forces must be shown the door.
“We will not allow anybody to disturb peace, communal harmony and law and order at any cost. There are forces working from outside the country and trying desperately to disrupt peace by holding marches and so called Sarbat Khalsa with the backing of Congress and AAP leadership. Akali Dal workers will deal firmly with such elements,” SAD supremo said.
Reiterating that Punjabis have always upheld the ethos of peace and brotherhood in the state, Mr. Badal expressed hope that no one would ever be able to destroy the deep-knitted social fabric of the state and appealed to all Punjabis to remain vigilant and maintain peace and communal harmony in the state at all costs.
Mr. Badal also expressed deep anguish at the incidents of the sacrilege of Sri Guru Granth Sahib and said that these conspiracies are the handiwork of those elements that are jealous of the brotherhood and communal harmony and rapid development of Punjab.
While answering queries of media-persons on the sidelines, Mr. Sukhbir Badal congratulated Janta Dal (U) leader Nitish Kumar and his alliance partners for victory in the Bihar Assembly polls. At the same time, he also admitted that Bihar mandate was a setback for NDA and the alliance will introspect the reasons for the defeat.
To another question, Mr. Badal said that recent visits of Congress Vice President Mr. Rahul Gandhi and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to Punjab were a mere drama and these were meant to misguide people of the state. He also lashed out at the Mr. Rahul Gandhi saying a party linked to the 1984 riots and whose government carried out Operation Bluestar could not claim Sikh respect.
On this occasion, Mr. Siknder Singh Maluka, Mr. Janmeja Singh Sekhon (both Cabinet Ministers), Area MLA’s, Akali leaders and workers from Bathinda, Mansa and Faridkot were also present.