Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Chandigarh
Continuing the war of words over the joint celebrations of the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, the Congress today accused the Badal family of creating hurdles in the occasion.
The SAD counter-attacked the Congress, saying the party was playing divisive politics by interfering in religious affairs of the Sikhs. SAD Spokesperson Daljit Singh Cheema said religious functions of the Sikhs had always been organised by the SGPC.
Cabinet Ministers Sukhjinder Randhawa, Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa and Charanjit Channi accused SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal of misleading the people on the matter. They rejected Sukhbir’s contention that 350th anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh was celebrated in Patna by the SGPC. They asserted that the design of the Badal family was to get its legitimacy restored by dominating over the Guru Nanak anniversary celebrations.
Bajwa said he had joined Guru Gobind Singh 350th anniversary celebrations at Patna and the function was organised under the command of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
The function was addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the then Bihar Governor Ram Nath Kovind and the then Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, besides Nitish Kumar. The stage was conducted by the then Punjabi University vice chancellor Dr Jaspal Singh. He futher said the then SGPC president just presented vote of thanks.
“These facts are too well-known to Sukhbir, who, accompanied by his wife Harsimrat Kaur Badal, sat among the sangat in front of the stage. Sukhbir is now purposely spreading misinformation as the design of the Badal family is to seek rehabilitation after having been rejected by the people in the state and alienated due to sacrilege incidents,” he added.
He reminded the Akali Dal president that the tercentenary of the Khalsa in 1999 was celebrated by the Punjab Government, while Gurta Gaddi Divas of Guru Granth Sahib at Nanded in 2007 too was organised by the Maharashtra Government.
Randhawa said the Badal family, in order to maintain hold on the party, was committing a political hara-kiri by dragging the 550th Parkash Purb celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev into a controversy every now and then, besides misusing the SGPC.
Randhawa said the Badals ought to have understood the significance of this sacred occasion and cooperated with the government in putting up a united face for the sake of Punjab at least on this issue.
Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister Charanjit Singh Channi said it was narrow mindedness of SAD president, who considered himself superior to Akal Takht Jathedar.
