Khadoor Sahib, April 18
Solemnity and sanctity of the 500th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Angad Dev notwithstanding, senior Akali and Congress leaders showed no restraint in delivering covert political messages to the massive and disciplined audience which had assembled in this holy city to pay homage to the second Sikh Guru.

While the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) had categorically urged the leaders not to violate the sanctity of the occasion by deriving any political mileage on the eve of the Lok Sabha elections, Chief Minister, Amarinder Singh, announced remission for prisoners who were above 70 years in age besides giving one year remission in sentence to all other convicts in the prisons in the state.

On the other hand, the Shiromani Akali Dal used the opportunity to introduce Mr Navjot Sidhu, the BJP candidate from Amritsar. The dal leadership also did not let slip the opportunity of criticising the Congress Government for its apathy towards development of the holy city in the centenary year. “The roads here remained dusty and pot-holed until a week ago,” remarked senior dal leader, Ranjit Singh Brahmpura.

Interestingly, most of other leaders, including the Shiromani Akali Dal president, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, focussed mainly on religious and social issues during his 15-minute address urging those in the massive pandal to shun drugs and take a pledge to prevent apostasy from spreading.

The Chief Minister, who arrived after Mr Badal left, also announced that a veterinary university would be set up at Punjab Agricultural University (Ludhiana) while the Institute of Punjabi Studies at Punjabi University (Patiala) would be named after the second Sikh Guru.

‘Let the Shiromani Akali Dal lodge a complaint with the Election Commission. I know that they can’t do that as the announcement has been made on this auspicious occasion”, quipped Capt Amarinder Singh when asked whether he had violated the model code of conduct by making political declarations.

Though Mr Parkash Singh Badal made a guarded speech as he was cautious about the election code, the dal in a calculated move summoned former Test cricketer and commentator Navjot Singh Sidhu to the congregation. Navjot Sidhu not only sought the blessings of Mr Badal and other senior dal leaders but also of the Sikh clergy, including the Jathedar of Akal Takht, Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, and Giani Kirpal Singh. Navjot, however, left without addressing the audience.

Earlier, Mr Tarlochan Singh, Chairman, National Commission for Minorities, also exhorted the sangat to shun drugs and check apostasy. Mr Prahlad Singh Chandok, president, Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, too, expressed similar views.

Interestingly, Mr Badal and many of his colleagues left the dais before the arrival of Capt Amarinder Singh and Mr H.S. Hanspal, president of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, Giani Puran Singh, Head Granthi of Golden Temple, and other Sikh high priests were invited to address the Sikh sangat before the arrival of the Chief Minister.

While Jathedar Vedanti presented ‘siropa’ to Mr Badal, Baba Sewa Singh honoured the Chief Minister. Earlier, Capt Amarinder Singh and Mr Hanspal preferred to sit in the pandal like a common devotee. However, the organisers asked the Chief Minister and other Congress leaders to come on the stage.