Avoid politics over Gurpurb: Ex-minister Sampla to Cong

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, October 18

BJP leader and former union minister Vijay Sampla here today asked the Congress to work with the SGPC for the 550th Parkash Purb celebrations and said the party should not indulge in “mera-tera” on the first Sikh Guru’s Parkash Purb celebrations.

While lauding the Centre’s decision on rebuilding of Ravidas Mandir in Delhi on the same site, Sampla said some people from “other parties” were unhappy that the issue was resolved.

Speaking over politics surrounding the Parkash Utsav, Sampla said: “Punjab sarkar alag se apna rasta ikhtiyar karna chah rahi hai, jabki Sikh samaaj se sambandhit dharmik sanstha SGPC hai. Bakiyon ko unke (SGPC) ke saath chalna chahiye. Sarkar ko bhi chahiye dharmik guru Guru Nanak Dev ke mudde par ‘mera tera’ na kare. (The Central government is trying to chart its alternate path on the Parkash Utsav. Though the formal body for the Sikhs is the SGPC. Other bodies should cooperate with the SGPC. The government shouldn’t indulge in “yours and mine” over the issue of Gurpurb.)

Speaking about the state BJP leadership‘s personal participation in the Parkash Purb preparations, Sampla said: “The Centre is ensuring all facilities for the occasion. The state BJP is currently busy with the elections but after the poll we will be involved more actively in the celebrations.”

Lauding the Centre’s decision to rebuild the Ravidas temple on the same site, Sampla said some had trouble that the issue was resolved.

He said: “I won’t take names but some people from other parties cannot tolerate development. They don’t want to see an end to the issue. This was the only medium for them to create an issue and mislead people. But the government has silenced them. Modi ji has firm commitment to the Dalit Samaj. I appeal people not to be misled by such elements. The temple will be certainly made. The Centre has reiterated its commitment today.”

Notably, the Centre had told the Supreme Court that it’s ready to build the temple at the same site where it was demolished in August on court orders.

Reacting to queries about his disappointment on his son not being chosen as a candidate for the Phagwara assembly bypoll, Sampla said: “There isn’t .1 per cent truth in such speculations. It is an issue generated by the media. Everyone stands completely with the decision taken by the party high command. I back the party decision and have been canvassing for the candidate.