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Editorial

Strong sentiment of hatred against Badal family building up in Punjab

August 30, 2018 06:27 PM

By Satinder Bains
CHANDIGARH: Over hundereds of incidents of sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib, the holy scripture of Sikhs, and subsequent incidents of police firing on the protesting Sikhs which led to killing of two youth during last two years of Parkash Singh Badal government in Punjab had flared up the Sikh sentiments. Now with new evidence of involvement of Parkash Singh Badal and his son Sukhbir Singh Badal in sacrilege episode has come to the fore, the Badal family is facing the hatred of Sikh comunity world wide.

The Justice Ranjit Singh Commission report presented in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha on August 27, 2018 and debate on the report taken up next day had nailed the Badal family members who allegedly defended the accused, the members of dera Sacha Sauda, and also blamed the sacrilege on foreign agencies besides registering false case against two brothers of Behbal kalan. The report said that Parkash Singh Badal had ordered firing on innocent Sikhs in Bargari and Lathi charge at Kotkapura. Sukhbir Singh Badal who was home minister also defended police officers who were involved in firing which shows his guilt.

The Justice Ranjit Singh Commission report has also touched the shady deals between Badal family and dera Sacha Sauda chief. Sukhbir Badal allegedly took Rs.100 crores from dera chief to allow his film released in Punjab and also to exonerate dera chief from Akal Takht. The role of Akal Takht chief has also come under scanner after revelations made in the report. After public pressure Jathedar Gurbachan Singh had withdrawn the edict of pardoning the Jathedar.

The Sikhs in Punjab are up in the arms against the Badal family. The Shiromani Akali Dal(Badal) which has its main vote bank among the rural Sikhs seems heading for oblivion. The party is trying to cope with the crisis by attempting to divert the issues. While Parkash Singh Badal has not reacted to the developments, Sukhbir Badal is hitting back at Congress by raking up 1984 anti-Sikh riots issue and branding Congress number one enemy of Sikhs. He was not clarifying his family's role in the sacrilege cases while accusing Justice Ranjit Singh of playing in the hands of Congress.

The mwdia reports about facts stated in the Justice Ranjit Singh Commission and a strong offensive against Badal family in the Vidhan Sabha by Congress and AAP has projected Badals as 'Enemies of Sikhs' and social media has further opened pandora's box of past follies of Badal family. AAP MLA Kanwar Sandhu revealed in the Vidhan Sabha that how Badal was responsible for killing of four youth in Nakodar in 1982 when police fired on Sikhs youth protesting against sacrilege incident, first of its nature in Punjab. Badal later patronised the two officers repsonsible for the incident, they are Mohammed Izhar Alam (Alam Sena fame) and Darbara Singh Guru who remained principal secretary of Badal. Alam's wife was given SAD ticket and Guru also contested election of Akali Dal ticket.

Capt Amarinder Singh who led the offensive against Badal went on to extent of calling Badal a 'Badmash' and mischivious person. He maintained that Badal was responsible for Operation Blue Star and fuelling militancy in Punjab. He was loud in his words that Badal deserved no mercy. Capt Amarinder Singh had announced to take back sacrilege and firing cases back from CBI which were transferred by Badal to CBI a few days before result of assembly elections was declared in a bid to save his skin, considering a friendly government at center. It also shows his guilt in the sacrilege cases.

Social media has gone berserk in condemning Basdal family for their anti-Punjab actions begining from 1971-72 when Badal allegedly eliminated large number of youth in a bid to curb Naxal movement in Malwa region of Punjab. The social media posts pointed out how Badal accepted Rs.2 crores from Devi Lal Government in Haryana for the construction of SYL Canal in 1978 and how Badal protected the Nirankari Chief after killing of 13 Akahnd Kirtani Jatha Sikhs in Amritsar on Baisakhi of 1978. The Badal is also under attack for army attack on Golden Temple in 1984 and appointing his relative RameshInder Singh DC of Amritsar to give permission to army to enter the holy complex. Qestiosn are also being raised on Badal's decision to appoint Sumedh Singh Saini his DGP who allegedly killed hundereds of Sikh youth durin militancy.

The alleged cordial relations between Badal family and RSS are also highlight of social media posts. Badal patronised Dera Sacha Sauda and dera Noormehal for sake of votes and pushed the Sikh community to margin for vested interests. The social media has also revived the issue of Nankshahi calender which was changed under pressure from RSS and Sant Samaj and underlined the misuse of Shiromani Gurdawara Parbhandak Committee(SGPC).

The focus of social media is also on drug problem in Punjab which is allegedly created by Badal family in lust to make more money. Badal is also facing flak for rampat corruption and rise of gang culture in Punjab.

The AAP and many Sikh organisations have given call for social boycott of Badal family members and not to allow them to enter in their villages. Now after Ranjit Singh commission report, the Capt Government is also under pressure to act against Badals who are facing worst ever political crisis of their life. So is the case of Bikram Singh Majithia who has his share of hatred even in the SAD.

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