New Delhi, November 11
Congress President Sonia Gandhi today directed Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh not to let any untoward incident take place during tomorrow’s SGPC elections which could hurt the religious sentiments of the majority community in the state.
Congress General Secretary Ambika Soni said Mrs Gandhi had expressed concern at the reports in a section of the Press “about the deployment of security forces near the Golden Temple.”
“The Congress is a secular party which has never contested the SGPC elections. Mrs Gandhi has directed the Chief Minister of Punjab not to let any untoward incident take place which could hurt sensivity of any community,’’ she said.
Mrs Soni denied the Congress was taking any interest in the SGPC elections. She said the Congress had never contested these elections and had no intention of doing so.
The Chief Minister has informed the Congress President that his role was limited to maintaining law and order, Mrs Soni said.
Asked about the provocation for the state government to clamp a heavy security cover near the Golden Temple, Mrs Soni said the Chief Minister had already said that more security had been deployed because of the statements made by Akali Dal leaders to mobilise thousands of their supporters. She said that forces had been deployed to prevent any untoward incident. She added that forces had been deployed at the place since the past 14 years.
Mrs Soni said Congress general secretary-in-charge of Punjab Mohsina Kidwai had spoken to both the Chief Minister and PCC chief and they had conveyed that the Congress was not involved in the elections. She denied that the Congress was backing any faction in the elections.
AICC sources said Capt Amarinder Singh was in touch today with Mrs Gandhi and Mrs Kidwai over the developments related to the SGPC elections.
The reports about the entry of policemen in plain clothes in the Golden Temple complex on the pretext of searching the serais has increased the concern of the high command.
