Says return direct result of efforts put in by party top leadership
Chandigarh, April 26, 2020: The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today welcomed the return of 300 pilgrims who had been stranded in Sri Hazur Sahib back to Punjab in 10 buses arranged and despatched by its Mumbai unit.
In a statement here, party MP Balwinder Singh Bhundur said the return of the pilgrims back to the State was a direct result of the continuous efforts in this direction by the SAD leadership including former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, party president Sukhbir Singh Badal and Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal. "We thank the almighty that the repatriation process started by the SAD has finally been picked up by the Punjab government and all pilgrims will be back home soon".
Stating that it was the bounden duty of all elected governments to assist its people in times of need, Mr Balwinder Bhundur rued that the Punjab government had dragged its feet on the issue and only woke up when efforts made by the SAD were about to fructify. "Nothing was done for 20 days by the Punjab government to get the devotees back during the course of which the Uttar Pradesh and other governments were successful in getting their State subjects back home successfully. Anyway it is better late than never. The SAD on its part will continue to assist the government in the relief operation", he added.
Explaining the entire issue, Mr Bhundur said both former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal and SAD President Sukhbir Singh Badal had spoken to Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray to speed up the repatriation of the Sikh pilgrims from Sri Hazur Sahib. He said Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal also took up the issue with the Prime Minister and followed it up by speaking with the Home Secretary as well as the Maharashtra chief minister. "The green light for the repatriation of the pilgrims was finally given when Mrs Harsimrat Badal met Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi on April 22 and requested him to speak with the Maharashtra CM on this issue. Following this 10 buses which had been stationed in Sri Hazur Sahib for three days by the SAD Mumbai unit were given permission to leave for Punjab with 300 devotees. The SAD Mumbai unit arranged for these buses and paid for the same", he added.
Giving further details, the SAD leader said the SAD Mumbai unit had approached the Maharashtra Transport authorities to pay Rs 13 lakh for the second batch of 13 buses also but were told that the Punjab government would undertake this task. "This somewhat delayed the relief effort and efforts should have been made to allow everyone to be associated with the humanitarian work".
The SAD leader also warmly welcomed the pilgrims who returned home after more than 40 days at Nanded. He hoped the pilgrims would be able to resume their normal activities soon. He also appreciated the Sri Hazur Sahib management committee which had taken such good care of the devotees. He said some devotees were also stranded in Patna Sahab and they should also be repatriated to Punjab soon.