Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Chandigarh, November 26: People’s Party of Punjab chief Manpreet Singh Badal today questioned the deafening silence of Shiromani Akali Dal President Sukhbir Singh Badal on the most controversial issue of growing intolerance that is rocking the country as he heads a party that came into existence to articulate the aspirations of the a minority.
He said it was the Akali Dal that for years used to project itself as a champion of minorities but the this party with glorious past and traditions in history had degenerated to such an extent that its leadership was not coming out against increasing incidents against minorities and growing culture of intolerance, the two issues that are currently part of national political discourse.
Manpreet quoted the famous lines of Martin Niemoller about the cowardice of a section of Germans under Nazi regime who said: “First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.”
He said being in alliance with the Sangh Parivar outfit that is the symbol of the culture of intolerance was a separate issue but taking issue based position was another and it was here that the present leadership of the party had failed miserably. He recalled the Akali Dal even used to propose common front of minorities.
Manpreet underscored that coming into power could be one agenda of the Akali Dal but in case of this party, its role used to be much broader which the present Akali Dal chief had failed to match up to.
He called upon the SAD chief to at least once take a position to keep up the true Akali Dal heritage rather than indulging in petty politics.
He pointed out that the way the Sangh brigade was reacting to the charge was the concrete evidence of the growing intolerance that must be opposed by every secular person.
