‘DGP Gupta’s Kartarpur remark an attack on Sikh sentiments’

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, February 23

Activists of the Youth Akali Dal held a protest outside the DC office on Sunday against DGP Dinkar Gupta’s statement on Kartarpur Corridor.

The activists burnt effigies of the DGP and CM Capt Amarinder Singh. President of the Youth Akali Dal Doaba Zone Sukhdeep Singh Sukar said the DGP’s statement was an attack on Sikh sentiments and an effort to project Sikhs as terrorists. He said this was a part of the Congress’ strategy to create circumstances for the closure of the Kartarpur Corridor.

Speaking to the media, Sukhdeep said the DGP’s statement that a Sikh visiting Kartarpur Sahib could be turned into a terrorist within six hours, was an insult to the devotees and their sentiments.

Sukar asked the DGP to tell how many of the key Punjab leaders, including the CM and top leaders of various parties who had visited Kartarpur, had received training as a terrorist.

He said the statement denigrates the contribution of the Sikh community in history and for posterity. It is a deliberate attempt to portray the community in poor light and also is an insult to the Akal Takht and its Jathedar Harpreet Singh who had led a jatha to Kartarpur.

Sukar sought a clarification from the DGP and said, “The DGP should clarify whether he has given the statement himself or at the behest of the Gandhi family.” Sukar added, the purpose of jathas of devotees going to Pakistan is not terrorism but to pay obeisance. He also said the DGP had given the statement at a time when talks were already on for the removal of passport restrictions for smoother passage of devotees to the corridor.