Khadoor Sahib Gurta Gaddi Divas: Cong event turns into Sikki’s show as bigwigs fail to turn up
While Punjab local bodies minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, who has been the Congress’ main at most political rallies after the assembly elections, did not attend the conference, cabinet minister Rana Gurjit Singh, considered as political mentor of Sikki, also skipped the event.
The annual political conference of the Congress on the occasion of Gurta Gaddi Divas of Sri Guru Angad Dev at Khadoor Sahib in Tarn Taran on Sunday turned into Khadoor Sahib MLA Ramanjit Singh Sikki’s show after top brass gave the event a miss.
While Punjab local bodies minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, who has been the Congress’ main at most political rallies after the assembly elections, did not attend the conference, cabinet minister Rana Gurjit Singh, considered as political mentor of Sikki, also skipped the event.
Addressing the gathering, Sikki said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi is responsible for killing of two Indian soldiers of the Khadoor Sahib segment. He provoked Pakistan to kill the soldiers by making provocative statements,” he added. He further slammed Modi over demonetization and said the move caused huge loss, especially to the farmer community.
He also lashed out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over ‘cow politics’, and said, “The BJP should make arrangements of taking care of cows first.”
Sikki accused Modi of implementing anti-farmer polices. “Agriculture is the main occupation of Sikhs and Modi wants to ruin them by harming their occupation,” he added. “Sadly, Shiromani Akali Dal is silent on Centre’s anti-farmer moves as it wants to secure ministry of Harsimrat Kaur Badal,” said Sikki. He added: “Parkash Singh Badal is a puppet in hands of the RSS, which gives him guidelines”.
He also warned of a probe into “embezzlement” of funds given by the then CM Parkash Singh Badal during Sangat Darshan held in the Khadoor Sahib segment before bypoll in 2016.
AIDES ASK SIKKI TO CONTEST FROM BHOLATH
Amid much-talked Congress’ move of fielding the Khadoor Sahib legislature as ‘halqa in-charge’ of Bholath assembly segment, bastion of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislature Sukhpal Singh Khaira, Sikki’s aides asked him to contest from Bholath. “If you contest from Bholath, we will ensure that you win,” said Pardeep Kumar Chopra, member of the state unit of Congress.
Another local leader Gurmahabir Singh Sarhali said, “Give us the order and we will go to Bholath and teach lesson to the opponents.” Sikki clarified: “We have been assigned the responsibility to strengthen party base in Bholath. Khadoor Sahib is my home and I will never leave it,” he maintained.
Leaders court controversies
Sikki courted controversy after he termed the party gathering as “Sarbat Congress Khalsa”. Pardeep Kumar Chopra, meanwhile, said, “As a Congress worker was booked in 18 false cases, we will also register as many cases against Akalis.”
