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Badal defies ban, in Amritsar
Alleges attempt on life by ASI
Our Correspondent

Amritsar, November 11
The SAD chief, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, today alleged that the Punjab police made an abortive attempt on his life as his Sonata car was deliberately hit by a ‘Maruti’ driven by an ASI at the Harike Pattan river bridge post.

Talking to the media this morning on his arrival from Balasar at Circuit House here, he said the incident was shocking.

He made a dramatic entry, with a posse of NSG commandos, into the holy city without any fuss from the Tarn Taran side as he feared he would not be allowed to enter the city on eve of the SGPC elections. Elaborate security arrangements had been made and PAP commandos deployed at all city entry points. His arrival sent a sense of relief among local Akali leaders.

Commenting on the reported move of the Punjab Government not to allow the armed NSG personnel accompanying him into the city, Mr Badal said police had stopped him and requested him that commandos be asked to stay back.

However, the commandos did not relent. They kept their cool and avoided any confrontation with the police, thus saving the situation from turning ugly at Patti and Harike Pattan.

Exuding confidence Mr Badal presented a list of 101 members loyal to him and added that the SAD was determined to foil the “attempt” by the Congress through its agents to capture the SGPC by devious methods.

Stating that Capt Amarinder Singh’s “antics were childish”, said the Chief Minister would through blatant use of force and official machinery, dig the grave of the Congress in Punjab.

Mr Badal was confident that his candidates would win the SGPC elections with a thumping majority.

Later, a cavalcade of over 100 vehicles of Mr Badal was stopped by the police about 100 metres from the SGPC complex. Mr Badal immediately alighted from his car and walked to the SGPC complex along with 98 SGPC members who arrived by a chartered flight from Delhi at the Rajasansi airport here this afternoon.

The members walked into the SGPC complex chanting slogans in honour of the party and the Sikh faith along with a large number of party supporters who had managed to reach the Golden Temple complex ahead of tomorrow’s crucial SGPC poll.

As soon as the cavalcade arrived, the riot police took position but did not stop the surging crowd which far outnumbered the police.

Earlier, Union Labour Minister Sahib Singh Verma told the media at the airport here that he had come as NDA observer to oversee the SGPC poll.

The SAD General Secretary, Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, and party MP Zor Singh Mann, who is also an SGPC member, accompanied the Badal loyalists.

Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal claimed the support of 108 members, saying, some, including Bibi Jagir Kaur and SGPC chief Kirpal Singh Badungar, had already reached Amritsar.

He said the Amarinder Singh-led Congress government had created a situation similar to the one during Operation Bluestar in 1984.

Amarinder assures free passage to SGPC members
Tribune News Service

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh addresses a press conference in Chandigarh on Monday.

None of the 176 SGPC member, would be stopped from proceeding to the Teja Singh Sammundari Hall, venue of the elections.