CHANDIGARH: Shiromani Akali(Mann) and Dal Khalsa International on Sunday striongly condemned BJP leader Balbir Punj for issuing statement in Amritsar on Saturday inw hich he has demanded to remove portait of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindrawala from Sikh Museum in Golden Temple. The Dal Khalsa slammed BJP leadership for unnecessarily raking up the issue of portray of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale's then and now.
Taking a dig at Balbir Punj, an MP and in charge of the Punjab BJPunit for asking the SGPC to remove the portray of Sant Bhindrawale, Kanwar Pal Singh a party general secretary pointed out that it was none of their business. In a frontal attack against the BJP leadership, Dal Khalsa dubbed Narendar Modi a poster boy of the BJP as a terrorist and enemy of the mankind, who was responsible for butchering of thousands of Muslims in Gujrat in 2002. "Instead of questioning the credentials of Sikh heroes and martyrs, the BJP should first clean its own house".
He said Punj's remarks tantamount to hurting Sikh sentiments as Sant Bhindrawale symbolizes the pride of the community. He alleged that the BJP was having a field day in Punjab because of ineffectiveness and weaknesses of the SAD. As they say majority communalism breeds minority fundamentalism, he said pointing fingers towards those who were on the forefront in flaring up the issue".
Installation of Sant Bhindrawale's portrait in Sikh Museum was purely a Sikh affair and added that parties like BJP and Congress should stop airing irresponsible views that makes things worst.
Justifying Sant Bhindrawale's acts he said he raised the banner of revolt because our identity itself including beliefs, way of life, language and culture was under attack. He urged SAD leadership to press upon the BJP leaders to ensure that they should stop poking their nose in the matters that were sensitive and close to Sikh hearts.
SAD(Mann) general secretary Bhai Ram Singh has warned BJP against interefering in Sikh affairs and said that a befitting reply would be given to Punj. He said that Sant Bhindrawala was national hero of Sikhs and BJP has no right to comment on it. He said that BJP was trying todefame Sikh community. He also sought clarification from Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his party SAD on BJP statement. He blamed Badal for pushing Sikhs towards confrontation with center for his political motives.