Jalalabad, January 31, 2017: The Ludhiana Congress MP and party candidate from Jalalabad Ravneet Singh Bittu today hit back at Chief Minister S. Parkash Singh Badal that his Khalistani background was matter of record and so was the case with his party Shiromani Akali Dal that is mother of terrorism. He challenged Badal to open debate on this issue. Bittu held several rallies in the villages surrounding Jalalabad today. He got massive response from the locals who extended their support to him.
Joining issues with him on the issue of roots of terrorism, Bittu said rather than blaming the Congress, Badal should recall his party working committee resolution adopted in August, 1980 in which the party hailed politics of killing with reference to the assassination of Nirankari chief Gurbachan Singh in which it was stated that this “killing is a matter of pride”. It was this resolution that provided the much needed support base to terrorism.
He reminded Badal that the Congress record in confronting terrorism was unparalleled and said Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Chief Minister Beant Singh were martyred in this fight. He questioned Badal as to how come that he was blaming that very party for spreading terrorism whose two top leaders had made the supreme sacrifice for the nation.
Bittu said the public memory was not that short and the pictures of Badal with terrorists like Gurbachan Singh Manochahal were available. Badal participated in June 1986 conference organized by the radicals in the Golden Temple complex on Operation Bluestar anniversary. It was at that function that Manochahal was appointed Akal Takht Jathedar by the radicals. He said in case Badal so desired, he could produce several of his statements supporting terrorists and terrorism during that period.
On the issue of Khalistan, the Congress MP asserted Badal had not so far backtracked from the Khalistan memorandum submitted to the United Nations that was signed by him along with leaders like Simranjit Singh Mann. He said this was not the only secessionist document signed by him. He described Badal as the most dangerous leader who could use every body including terrorists for his vested political interests. It was strange that he was now trying to fool people into believing that terrorism was patronised the Congress while it was the reverse that was true. He said Badal as the chief minister had presented siropa to Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale at the time of has taking over as the Damdami Taksal chief.