Congress objects to politicisation of ‘Punjab 1984’ movie
Sunday, 30/10/2016
http://epaper.dailypostindia.com/Details.aspx?id=167414&boxid=58855&uid=&dat=2016-10-30
Jalandhar : Congress workers on Saturday objected to the politicisation of the movie, ‘Punjab 1984’ by the Akalis.
The party workers also stopped a bus that was being used by the Akalis to screen the movie, in village Dubarji in Kapurthala assembly segment.
The protestors led by the village Sarpanch, Jyoti Dubarji stopped the bus and objected to the screening of the movie saying this was aimed at exploiting the sentiments of people ahead of the assembly elections.
Punjab Congress vice president and Kapurthala MLA Rana Gurjeet Singh, who also reached the spot, while strongly objecting to the politicisation of the movie said that by screening the movie in the buses and the villages, the Akalis were trying to provoke and polarise people.
Rana said, “1984 was a tragic chapter in the history of Punjab. While it is difficult for anyone to forget what happened at that time, at the same time we cannot polarise and divide people over it.”
The Kapurthala MLA asked the SAD leadership, as what did they do while being in power at the centre between 1998 and 2004. “Even now you (SAD) are in power at the centre and instead of trying to provoke and polarise people you should ask PM Modi to take some action”, he asked Akalis.
He added that it was the Akalis, who wanted to keep the issue alive and use it at the time of elections. “The moment the elections are over, you will forget everything including 1984 as you have been doing for the last thirty years”, he told the Akalis.
The Congress vice president also asked the Akalis that they should also explain to people of Punjab why they have not identified and punished the people responsible for sacrilege of holy Guru Granth Sahab at Bargadi and the police firing killing peaceful protestors.
Rana said, the Congress party was not against the movie, but against exploiting people’s sentiments by screening this movie. “Your (SAD) intentions are ominous as you are trying to exploit the sensitivities of people by trying to open old wounds”, Rana told Akalis while warning them against playing with fire. He said, Punjab needs peace and progress and such actions can only harm it.
