Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Chandigarh, By awarding Padam Vibushan to Mr. Badal, the Modi government as not only politicized the prestigious award but has also belittled and devalued it, Says Ex-MLA and senior congress leader Mr.Sukhpal Singh Khaira.
In a statement released by him, he Says that the BJP government by awarding Padam Vibushan to a tainted and corrupt leader like Mr. Badal, has indulged in cheap politicking to garner Sikh votes for the ensuing Delhi polls, besides devaluing the esteemed award. The government by this foolish and politically motivated decision, has also belittled a stalwart leader like Mr. Advani and the other deserving candidates from different walks of life. Khaira added
It is pertinent to mention here, that Mr. Badal during his long political career has many a times indulged in anti national activities, either for self glorification or under pressure from demanding political crisis. Mr. Badal is on record, burning the constitution of India, in front of the Parliament on 27 February 1984 at Delhi, demanding amendment to Article 25(B) Clause 2,to identify Sikhs as a separate religion.he added
Similarly, Mr. Badal was a part of the ‘Ardas’ held before the Akal-Takht at Amritsar during the ‘Dharam-Yudh’ Morcha in 1982,wherein a vow was taken to create a one lac army of ‘Marjeewara’s’, to fight the repression unleashed by the state of india then. It is also a matter of record, that Mr Badal was a part of the delegation lead by Simranjit Singh Mann to meet the then visiting Secretary General of UNO Mr. Boutras Boutras Ghali on 22 April 1992, to demand a sovereign Sikh state. If the BJP government can override such glaring anti national activities merely for small political gains like the Delhi Sikh votes, one can imagine the compromises Mr. Modi can make to win elections even at the cost of country’s integrity.Khaira said
Apart from these anti national activities of Mr Badal, his career is blotted and tainted with rampant corruption. He was indicted by the Chinghani Commission in the early seventies on charges of corruption. Recently Mr. Badal misused his official position to intimidate, threaten and coerce the prosecution, investigators and the witnesses in the Disproportionate Assets case, against him and family to procure a manipulated acquittal. It is an open secret, that the Badal clan has hijacked various important businesses in the state, to amass ill gotten wealth. The Badals besides owning three 7-Star super luxury Hotels are running hundreds of super luxury buses in Punjab. His family owns the PTC channel, controls the cable network, real estate trade, has benami interests in the liquor and illegal mining operations. he added
To conclude, Mr. Badal by amassing huge assets, properties and ill-gotten wealth during his 60 years of political life should infact be awarded the title ‘fountainhead of corruption’ in his otherwise empty slated public life. Therefore, congress urges the Modi government to reconsider its politically motivated decision to bestow the honour of Padam Vibushan upon a tainted, corrupt and anti national leader like Mr. Badal, which will only set a bad precedent and encourage the political class to lead a Badal kind of selfish life. he added
