Punjab Deputy Chief Minister and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Friday said that former terrorists have reunited and an attempt was being made to finish the moderate Sikh leadership in the State.
He asked the Sikh community to understand the conspiracy behind the sacrilege of the Sikh holy book – the Guru Granth Sahib.
“It is quite clear, there is a feeling that the SAD-BJP government is set to come back to power in 2017. The sacrilege incidents followed by the Sarbat Khalsa (Sikh congregation) were deliberately organised to attack all Sikh institutions, including the Sri Akal Takht and the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, and cripple the SAD-BJP combine in the run-up to the Assembly elections,” Mr. Badal said in a statement.
The Deputy Chief Minister said the Punjab government and the SAD would not compromise on the law and order situation in the State and deal sternly with anti-social elements.
“The Punjab police know their responsibilities. There was a period recently, when tempers were running high because of desecration of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the police took a soft attitude. But now with the extremists having attacked Punjab, we will take strict action against them,” he said.
Mr. Badal alleged that the Congress played a major role in mobilising people for the Sikh congregation held in Amritsar and accused it of conspiring to disturb peace in the State.
