(Expresses shock at CM Bhagwant Mann visiting Takth Damdama Sahib in an inebriated condition)
(Asks AAP govt to announce a bonus of Rs 500 per quintal to farmers to compensate them for low wheat yields)
Talwandi Sabo – Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal today said Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Singh Mann had surrendered his powers to AAP Convener and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal who was not only taking meetings of Punjab officers in the absence of the chief minister but also ordering the postings of senior superintendents of police and deputy commissioners.
Addressing a huge ‘panthic’ gathering at Takth Damdama Sahib on the occasion of Baisakhi, the SAD President said Kejriwal had not only taken control of the administration in Punjab, but was also using its resources like the State helicopter for electioneering in Himachal Pradesh. “Even 90 commandos of the Punjab Police have been deputed with the Delhi chief minister”.
Earlier while paying tributes to Guru Sahiban on the occasion and narrating how the SAD and the SGPC were two pillars of the Sikh community, Sukhbir Badal took umbrage to chief minister Bhagwant Mann visiting Damdama Sahib in an inebriated condition today. Asserting that he did not want to speak for some time and wanted to give a free rein to the new government to fulfill the promises made to the people, he said the chief minister’s actions were however intolerable. Badal said this was not the first time Bhagwant Mann had conducted himself in this manner. “He has earlier also visited this holy place in an inebriated condition besides even the Bargari dharna site”.
The SAD President also stressed that the AAP government should protect the interests of the State even as he cited how the five AAP Rajya Sabha members from Punjab did not raise their voice against the centre for trying to dilute Punjab’s claim from Chandigarh or release of Sikh prisoners who had completed their jail terms. “It was left to former union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal to raise these issues forcefully in parliament”, he added.
Badal also asked the AAP government to immediately announce a bonus of Rs 500 per quintal for farmers who were facing huge losses due to low wheat yields. He also spoke on how anti-panthic forces were trying to weaken the SAD by defaming it. “These forces want to take control over our guru-ghar” he said adding after the central takeover of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC), the target was the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC).
Earlier SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami spoke on how Sikhs had remained steadfast to their faith against all odds. He said even now there were some black sheep in the community who were conspiring against the ‘panth’ and its institutions. He urged the community to pray for the well being of the ‘panth’, saying all anti-panthic forces would be defeated in due time.
Bathinda MP Harsimrat Badal said the AAP government besides compensating farmers for low yields, should reduce VAT on diesel besides making arrangements to adequate supply of power. She also narrated how she had constantly worked to resolve the issues of the community be it the issue of GST on langar or ensuring jail terms to the 1984 mass murderers.
Senior leader Sikandar Singh Maluka read out a resolution demanding the centre release all Sikh prisoners who had completed their jail terms including Balwant Singh Rajjoana, Prof Devenderpal Singh Bhullar and Jagtar Singh Hawara which was passed by the ‘sangat’ by a show of hands.
