Devanand Sharma/Raju William
Faridkot, October 7, 2018: It is not election time in Punjab yet all eyes are on what is happening at Bargari in Faridkot district, Patiala and Lambi, the home turf of Akali Dal supremo Parkash Singh Badal.
The issue at stake is sacrilege cases begging decisive action against those involved in it.
The issue has been agitating the Sikhs' minds. Their sense of deep hurt has only further deepened as successive politically rival governments of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and Congress have failed to initiate any concrete against perpetrators of sacrilege since 2015.
As the reports have come, the gathering at Bargari-bound protest march from Faridkot demanding justice in sacrilege incidents should be upsetting for both Akalis and Congress organising rallies at Lambi and Patiala respectively.
The political representation at Faridkot is marked by AAP MLA Sukhpal Khaira and his group of rebel party MLAs , all hailing from Malwa region which is the nerve centre of protest against the incidents of sacrilege.
Being in power in the state, Congress is also likely to muster impressive numbers at its Lambi rally.
But numbers challenge is real and big for Akalis at Patiala, the home turf of Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh. It is being observed that rallies of both traditional political rivals are more of political slanging match aimed at justifying their respective inaction and action on the issue.
At Faridkot, radical Sikh leaders Bhai Baljit Singh Daduwal, Bhai Mohkam Singh, AAP MLAs Sukhpal Khaira, Nazar Singh Manshahia, Pirmal Singh, Jagdev Singh Hissowal, LIP MLAs Simerjit Singh Bains and Balwinder Singh Bains addressed the gathering which has moved towards Bargari after saying ardas.
SAD chief patron Parkash Singh Badal, party president Sukhbir Badal are present at Patiala rally whereas Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh too has reached the rally's venue at Killianwali in Lambi constituency along with Punjab Congress president Sunil Jakhar and cabinet ministers among others.