‘PM didn’t support CM for conclave,’ claims Bajwa

Monday, 28/07/2014

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Jalandhar : Contrary to the claims that Akal Takht had intervened to call off the conclaves of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Haryana Sikh leaders, it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who did not support the decision of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal of leading a conclave in Amritsar.

“PM Modi snubbed Badal in holding a conclave against the formation of Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Parbhandak Committee (HSGPC) and leading a morcha that it was cancelled at the eleventh hour,” said Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) chief Partap Singh Bajwa here on Sunday.

The SAD leaders had planned a meeting at Amritsar on Sunday while the Haryana Sikh leaders had announced a meeting in Karnal on Monday.

Addressing a press conference in Jalandhar on Sunday, Bajwa said that PM Modi had clearly told CM Badal to stop is decision to hold a conclave, hence it was called off. “Finally, when the conclave was called off, the SAD thought it wise to project that Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh had intervened to bring an end to a possible tension between the SAD leaders and the HSGPC,” he added.

He rather demanded that the Akal Takth should take back the excommunicated Haryana Sikh Gurdawara Parbhandak Committee chief Jagdish Singh Jhinda, Haryana Finance Minister Harmohinder Singh Chattha and Didar Singh Nalwi in the ‘Panth’.

The Akal Takht had excommunicated the trio from the highest temporal seat of Sikhism for constituting the HSGPC on July 16.

On the demand of Anandpur Sahib MP Prem Singh Chandumajra to have an All India Gurdwara Act for bringing an end to conflicts and differences of the Sikhs in different states, Bajwa said, “There was no serious thought involved in this statement, as it was a mere show off. The SAD never wanted any such act to come in reality, as that would undermine their supremacy on Panthic issues.”

Further talking about the upcoming by-polls at Patiala and Talwandi Sabo assembly seats, Bajwa sought support form the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) claiming that the Congress had a better vote share than the AAP in the recently-concluded Lok Sabha polls.

“For the complete rout of the SAD from the state, it was must that the Congress and the AAP should join hands in these by-polls. The Congress has decided to begin the campaign from August 1 and it was a direct contest to rout the SAD,” he said.

Bajwa also said that as PPCC chief, he would campaign in Patiala as well as Talwandi Sabo. “It was not a triangular contest rather a contest between the Congress and the AAP at both the seats,” he added.