Protests against Badals, SGPC day after probe report tabled

GS Paul

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, August 29

As a fallout of the Justice Ranjit Singh Commission’s report pointing out the involvement of the SAD in sacrilege cases and firing at Behbal Kalan claiming two lives, Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal had to skip her proposed Tarn Taran visit at the eleventh hour to avoid the wrath of the protesting Sikh organisations on Wednesday.

In Amritsar, SAD (Amritsar) activists burnt the effigies with photos of former CM Parkash Singh Badal, SGPC president Gobind Singh Longowal and former jathedar Giani Gurmukh Singh at the Bhandari Bridge in Amritsar in the evening.

Harsimrat and her maternal family members regularly attend the religious programme scheduled for Wednesday at Musse village in Tarn Taran conducted by Sant Gopal Singh of Gilwali village (Amritsar).

Holding cow dung filled in polythene bags, black flags and anti-SAD placards, activists of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Committee and various other organisations under the tutelage of Manjit Singh Chabal and Tarlochan Singh Sohal assembled at the Chabal-Khem Karan road to intercept the minister’s cavalcade.

“A series of sacrilege incidents occurred during the SAD regime. It is unanimously decided that any Akali leader, particularly Badal family member, will not be allowed to enter our village,” Manjit Singh said.

Sources said Harsimrat was informed before hand and she preferred to return from Chabal, 8 km ahead of Musse village. To avoid any untoward incident, SP (headquarters) Gurnam Singh with his team had reached the spot.

“The official intimation of the minister’s visit was received, so as a protocol I was there at the spot. Later, her programme was cancelled,” he said.