Demanding President’s Rule in Punjab, state Congress president and former chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Sunday said an SGPC (Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee) priest’s refusing ‘siropa’ (saffron scarf of honour) to chief minister Prakash Singh Badal was a sign of widespread anger against the ruling party.
“Obviously, the ‘sewadar’ was right, as the person responsible for the sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib doesn’t deserve a siropa,” he said, adding: “If Badal retains some grace, he shouldn’t allow the persecution of the sewadar.”
Amarinder was in Ludhiana to attend the ‘bhog’ ceremony of Harkirat Singh Kotli, grandson of former chief minister Beant Singh, at Doraha. He also went to Khasi Kalan to visit the family of Bhupinder Singh, victim of the May 17 murderous attack here on Patiala-based Sikh preacher Ranjit Singh Dhadrianwale. “Punjab requires President’s rule to restore law and order and people’s confidence, as anarchy prevails now,” he said, demanded that the Central Bureau of Investigation be asked to look into the attack on the preacher.
Amarinder accused the CM of shielding the culprits. Later, he also visited the Bhaini Sahib headquarters of the Namdharis to convey his condolences over the killing of sect’s matriarch Chand Kaur. “It’s a matter of concern that even after more than two months, the killers have not been identified,” he said.
{{/usCountry}}Amarinder accused the CM of shielding the culprits. Later, he also visited the Bhaini Sahib headquarters of the Namdharis to convey his condolences over the killing of sect’s matriarch Chand Kaur. “It’s a matter of concern that even after more than two months, the killers have not been identified,” he said.
{{/usCountry}}State CLP (Congress Legislature Party) leader Charanjit Singh Channi, former CM Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, previous state Congress president Partap Singh Bajwa, All-India Congress Committee (AICC) secretary Harish Chaudhary, and MP Ravneet Singh Bittu were present.
Also read: Amarinder asks Badal to resign, seeks President’s rule