Punjab Congress condemns Badungar’s attempts to politicise SGPC
PPCC leaders question his failure to protect Sikh rights during SAD-BJP rule
Chandigarh, June 26, 2017: The Punjab Congress on Monday strongly castigated SGPC president Kirpal Singh Badungar for his persistent efforts to politicise the religious body over recent developments in the state assembly, warning that any attempt to mix religion with politics would backfire on the religious body.
The Punjab Congress, in a statement issued here, charged Badungar with trying to seize political mileage to further his own ambitions, and said it was obvious that the SGPC, for long controlled by the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), had now decided to officially step into the political domain. It was quite apparent that Badungar himself had his eyes set on leading the Akalis, who were completely bereft of a strong leadership at the moment, said the Congress leaders.
The statement was issued by Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) leaders Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria, Ramanjit Singh Sikki, Sukhjeet Singh Kaka Lohgari and Darshan Singh Brar.
Had the SGPC really been concerned about protecting the rights and interests of Sikhs in Punjab, it would have come out in their support when they were going through serious crises under the Akali rule, said the PPCC leaders.
`Why was the SGPC missing when religious books were being desecrated every second day in the state, and turbans of Faridkot families were tossed during protests against the Bargari sacrilege incident in 2015?’
`Where were they when two Sikhs were killed in the unprovoked police firing at Behbal Kalan during the 2015 protests against the Bargari incident?’
`Where was the SGPC when turbans of farmers were flung in air during protests against the government in 2015 over damage to cotton crops?
`Where was the SGPC, and where was Badungar, when teachers in the state were setting themselves afire and climbing water tanks to draw the attention of the erstwhile SAD-BJP government to their plight?’
`Why did the SGPC not protest when agitating linesmen seeking jobs were manhandled by the police?’
Raising these questions, the PPCC leaders pointed out that suddenly now Badungar, who had exposed his true intentions by participating in SAD’s recent dharnas against the ruling Congress, sees the religious sanctity of the people of Punjab being violated in the Assembly. The SGPC chief’s continuous tirade on the issue smacked of sheer political motivation, they added.
With the Badal father-son duo having completely failed to provide the Akalis with a strong leadership, there was a vacuum that Badungar seemed keen to fill up, said the Congress leaders, adding that this did not augur well for the state.
Religious politicisation can never benefit any community, the PPCC leaders said, adding that Badungar’s nefarious designs would be nipped in the bud by Punjab’s Sikhs, who would not allow their religious faith to become a tool in the hands of the SGPC at any cost.