Terrorist violence in Punjab rooted in Badal’s electoral politics: Tript Bajwa

Photo & News by Rakesh Shah

Chandigarh, Nov 22:

Punjab Rural and Urban Development Minister Mr Tript Rajinder Singh Badal today said the rise of terrorism in the State was rooted in the electoral politics of now 5-time Chief Minister and Shiromani Akali Dal Patron Mr Parkash Singh Badal. He called upon his to apologise to the people of Punjab for his compromising politics as Mr Badal had even gone to the extent of signing Khalistan memorandum that was submitted to the United Nationals general secretary.

“It was Mr Badal’s appeasement politics that unleashed violence in peaceful Punjab in 1978 when he was the Chief Minister heading the Akali Dal-Janata Party government in the state. The present situation again is rooted in his electoral designs of appeasement of Dera Sacha Sauda. He is still to answer as to why Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh and his associates were summoned by him to his official residence in Chandigarh in September 2015 to grant pardon to Dera chief Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh”, he said.

He said it was ironic that the person who personally was responsible for putting Punjab on fire was accusing the Congress.

He said had Mr Badal sincerely taken steps, the situation that arose following the theft of the Bir of Guru Granth Sahib from gurdwara in Burj Jawahar Singhwala on June 1, 2015 could have been avoided. That was not to be as he and his son and then deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal had negotiated with Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh for support in elections.

Mr Bajwa reminded Mr Badal that the charges of appeasement of a section of people by him had been leveled by none else but then Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee chief Jathedar Gurcharan Singh Tohra and Akali Dal President Jagdev Singh Talwandi in 1979. It was the Badal government that did not file appeal against the acquittal of Nirankari chief Baba Gurbachan Singh and others accused in the Sikh-Nirankari clash on April 13, 1978 in Amritsar. He was the chief minister.

He pointed out it was the Akali Dal working committee that at its meeting on August 20, 1980 has provided legitimacy to the killers by hailing the assassination of Nirankari chief Baba Gurbachan Singh.

He said it was Mr Badal who hobnobbed with the killers and in case he so desired, he could release his pictures attending a conclave where terrorist leader Gurbachan Singh Manochahal was announced as the Akal Takht Jathedar. He said it was ironic that the person who had signed the Khalistan memorandum was accusing the Congress of being in league with the disruptionist forces