Didn’t meddle in SGPC affairs: Sukhbir

GS Paul

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, April 28

“I never interfered in SGPC affairs,” SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal said today. After former CM Parkash Singh Badal, Sukhbir denied the allegations levelled by former Takht Damdama Sahib Jathedar Gurmukh Singh.

Sukhbir and his wife Harsimrat Kaur Badal today paid obeisance at the Golden Temple. He termed Gurmukh’s charge as “a total lie and baseless”.

Gurmukh Singh had been replaced days after he had stated that he, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh and Takht Kesgarh Sahib Jathedar Giani Mal Singh had been called to the then CM Badal’s residence. There, Sukhbir had handed them a clarification letter written in Hindi on behalf of the Sirsa dera head and had asked them to exonerate the dera chief.

On the month-old Congress government, he said, “What to talk of new projects…the old projects which were midway during SAD-BJP rule have been left as they were. The law and order situation is deteriorating. Akali leaders have been victimised. Congress MLAs have overpowered the grain markets and the liquor trade is monopolised,” he said.

He said that the Congress government was shying away from its pre-poll promises. “Where’s ‘karza kurki maafi’? The Congress had filled up forms before elections, but never spared a thought to keep its word of waiving the debt. A government job for every household too was a hollow promise,” he said.

On AAP’s dismal performance in the Delhi MC poll, Sukhbir quipped, “Amarinder government will taste the same defeat in the parliamentary elections ahead.”