JALANDHAR: In a veiled dig at former ally BJP, Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal, when he released his party’s manifesto here on Saturday, said “some parties” had given the Lok Sabha elections a “communal angle” and votes were more important for them than national unity.
“It is very clear, if for 70 years, mangalsutras have not been snatched, how would it happen now? Ram Mandir is the centre of devotion for everybody and who would demolish it? These things should not have been said at that level, this is my advice,” he said in response to a query whether he would clarify what he meant by some parties. “The country belongs to all irrespective of the numbers of any community. But when defeat is apprehended, some things are coming up which should not happen in a democratic country,” he said.
As he raised the issue of Sikh prisoners, he said rape convicts in Bilkis Bano case were released, but Sikh prisoners were being discriminated against by not being released even after serving their sentences. Turning to Punjab, he said attempts were on to cause polarisation in Punjab by the national parties. “Out of four main contestants in Punjab, three are national parties and they are here only to get votes while Akali Dal is the only party which is standing for Punjab.” He held that in Punjab, other parties were seeking votes from particular sections and polarising people. “These were the national parties which pushed Punjab in the dark days in the past with their politics of polarisation. Our agenda is only for Punjab and we shall not allow any attempts to create communal tension in the state. Other parties which are trying to push this agenda will not be allowed to succeed. We can’t allow the loss of lives of our youths,” he said. He said SAD would also push a law to bar people from other states from purchasing agricultural land in Punjab as was already being done by Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand.
‘RSS meddling in religious affairs’Raising the issue of interference into Sikh religious affairs and gurdwara management, Sukhbir said Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh had already taken control of Takht Hazur Sahib Board. “In the last few years, a new trend has started: to interfere in the religious affairs of others by one religion. It is dangerous. It is not tolerable that one organisation comes and says we shall interfere in others’ affairs,” he said.
Dilli wale bhajao: SAD'Dilli wale bhajao, Punjab bachao’ Every page of the SAD manifesto had a slogan at the top: “Dilli wale Bhajao, Punjab bachao (Get rid of Delhi people, save Punjab).” On one page, it specifically mentioned, “Punjab is still being ruled by nonPunjabis.”
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