Radicals call for political boycott of Badals; to hold ‘Sarbat Khalsa’ soon
Friday, 11/11/2016
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BATHINDA: The Sikh radicals on Thursday called for political boycott of the Badals and announced to soon declare the day and place for holding the ‘Sarbat Khalsa’ (religio-political congregation of Sikhs), that was scheduled to be held in Talwandi Sabo on Thursday, but was called off after the Punjab government’s refusal to grant permission for it and rounding up of over 2,000 people from across the state ahead of the event.
The radicals held a meeting at Gurdwara Budha Johr in Sri Ganganagar district of Rajasthan and called on the Sikh community to boycott the Badals politically so that religious institutions could be freed from the clutches of the ruling dispensation. After calling off the congregation on Wednesday, the radicals had announced to hold a meeting in the gurdwara.
A press release signed by parallel ‘jathedar’ (high priest) of Takht Sri Damdama Sahib in Talwandi Sabo and parallel ‘jathedar’ of Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, Anandpur Sahib, Amri Singh Ajnala, said that the new date and place for holding the ‘Sarbat Khalsa’ would be announced soon.
The meeting attacked the Badals for banning the ‘Sarbat Khalsa’ and said that the Badals resorted to do so as they were scared of the huge gathering expected at the congregation.
“By cancelling the event that was to discuss the Sikh issues and demand justice for the two persons killed in police firing at Behbal Kalan last year and failure to nab the culprits involved in the desecration of Guru Granth Sahib, the Punjab government has committed a sin,” said the statement.
