M A I N   N E W S

Political blame game at Hola Mohalla
Kiran Deep
Tribune News Service

Anandpur Sahib, March 14
Allegations and counter-allegations by political parties on ‘‘Khalistan’’ issue ruled the roost on the second day of Hola Mohalla here today. Leaders of various political parties came here to address the political conferences.

The President of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, Mr Shamsher Singh Dullo, blamed the Akali Dal (Badal) for raking up ‘‘Khalistan’’ issue in the state while Parkash Singh Badal accused the Congress of creating an atmosphere of insecurity among the people of the state by false propaganda. Mr Simranjeet Singh Mann, President of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), said, “I am still for a separate nation for Sikhs. He said the Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, the SAD President, Parkash Singh Badal, late Gurcharan Singh Tohra, Surjit Singh Barnala, had all signed a memorandum submitted to UNO in 1992.

SAD President Parkash Singh Badal addresses a political conference in Anandpur Sahib; and (right) PPCC President Shamsher Singh Dullo waves to the crowd at Congress conference held at Anandpur Sahib on the occasion of Hola Mohalla on Tuesday. — Tribune photos

Giving details Mr Dullo said the ‘‘Khalistan’’ issue had been raised by SAD (Badal) by signing a joint pact with other leaders demanding a separate nation and that had deteriorated situation in the state. As a result as many as 26,000 innocent persons had lost their lives, he added.

He said the Congress is committed to maintaining peace in the state. Justifying the arrest of Jagjit Singh Chohan, he said the Punjab Police had arrested Chohan after he raised the demand for ‘‘Khalistan’’ in an interview to a private channel.

Describing SAD (Badal) as a communal party, he said Guru Gobind Singh had a secular approach but SAD (Badal) has been misleading Sikhs on religious grounds.

He said the Congress government had been concentrating on the development of the state and had provided basic infrastructure to the people of the state.

On the other hand Mr Badal alleged that the issue of ‘‘Khalistan’’ surfaced always during the rule of Congress government and he also blamed the Congress government for the recent telecast about terrorism in the state by a private channel. He said the matter should be investigated properly.

He said the Congress government was responsible for corruption that was rampant in every department in the state. Mr Badal also accused the Congress government of misusing public money by issuing various advertisements in newspapers regarding its achievements. He said the government was misleading the people of the state by making false claims in these advertisements.

The President of the SAD (Longowal), Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra, blamed both the Congress and SAD (Badal) for raising the ‘‘Khalistan’’ issue again. He alleged that both the parties had ignored the real issues of providing power and water to people and jobs to the unemployed youth of the state.

In a conference organised here jointly by Dal Khalsa and Shiromani Khalsa Dal the two parties resolved to work together to achieve sovereign self-rule for Sikhs.

Mr Daljit Singh Bittu, president of the Shiromani Khalsa Dal , said there was a need to instill a sense of pride in Sikh youths about their traditions, principles and ethos. ‘‘Sikhs have struggled for their legitimate rights in the past and would carry on with their democratic struggle till they achieved their goal.

Mr Satnam Singh, president of Dal Khalsa, said , ‘‘We will reach out to all like-minded groups and individuals and involve them in the struggle to uphold honour and dignity of Sikhs’’.