Chandigarh: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab media in-charge Baltej Pannu on Monday launched a scathing attack on the Badal family, accusing the historic Akali Dal of turning the Panthak movement built on sacrifices into a family political party. He said that the party leadership has systematically tried to capture Sikh institutions and use them for personal and political gains. Referring to the controversy involving Amarjeet Singh Chawla and the woman who was kept at the SGPC lodge in Sri Anandpur Sahib for months, Baltej Pannu questioned how so many powers were given, why Virsa Singh Valtoha and Sarabjit Singh Jhinjar brought the woman there and what action SGPC chief Harjinder Singh Dhami took on her complaint.
AAP Punjab media incharge Baltej Pannu said
Addressing the press conference, AAP Punjab media in-charge Baltej Pannu said that the history of Akali fronts has been a history of sacrifices, in which common Akalis used to go to jail with only a parna on their shoulders and earned the title of 'Jathedar' through their sacrifices. Pannu said, "That word was earned, it was not something anyone associated with their name." He further said that this tradition has now ended because a particular family has taken over this front. He said that even Prakash Singh Badal could not add 'Jathedar' to his name in his entire political career because that status required huge contribution.
became a family party
AAP's media in-charge said that the Badal family can no longer claim that Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) is truly a regional or representative Panthak party. Baltej Pannu said, "It is clear from the name Akali Dal Badal that it has become a family party." He questioned what agenda the Badal-led Akali Dal has finally set for the Sikh community.
Serious questions on the functioning of Sikh institutions
Citing the recent FIR lodged against Shiromani Akali Dal leader and former SGPC member Amarjeet Singh Chawla, he said that the allegations made by a woman in Anandpur Sahib Sarai have raised serious questions on the functioning of Sikh institutions. He asked, “In the FIR, a woman alleges that she was kept hostage in Anandpur Sahib Sarai. How can a woman stay in SGPC Sarai for months? Who gave her accommodation, vehicle and other facilities and who bore the expenses?”
Baltej Pannu especially raised questions on the role of SGPC chief Harjinder Singh Dhami and demanded Dhami to tell what action was taken when the woman came to him with the complaint. He asked, “You say there is no need for police and you will handle everything yourself, then why did you remain silent for weeks and months?”
Baltej Pannu raised questions
Baltej Pannu also raised questions on the political and organizational connections associated with Amarjeet Singh Chawla. He asked why Youth Akali Dal chief Sarabjit Singh Jhinjar arranged a ticket for a woman from Bahrain, why Virsa Singh Valtoha was involved in this and for what purpose the press conference was actually called. He said that Sukhbir Singh Badal and Harjinder Singh Dhami will have to answer these questions.
Baltej Pannu further raised the question that despite serious allegations, why Amarjeet Singh Chawla continued to use the word 'Bhai' after his name, whereas in Sikh tradition such titles are given by behavior and contribution.
part of a bigger trend
He also referred to the action of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, which had expelled Amarjeet Singh Chawla and SGPC employee Malkit Singh from the Khalsa Panth on September 20 following the controversy. He said emphatically, "This incident is not an isolated incident, but is part of a larger trend of the Badal family taking over and using Sikh institutions."
Referring to the 2015 sacrilege controversy, Baltej Pannu said, "The Sarup of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji was stolen from Burj Jawahar Singh Wala and posters challenging the administration were put up for months, but no concrete action was taken. When the Sikh community took to the streets to protest following the sacrilege incidents, water cannons, tear gas and bullets were fired at the protesters."
Badal government handled the situation
Referring to the Kotkapura and Behbal Kalan firing incidents, he said the way the Badal government handled the situation has hurt the faith of the Sikh community. He said, “In an attempt to accuse Sikhs of sacrilege, two Sikh youth were tortured without any thought. The people of Punjab have not forgotten what happened between 2015 and 2017.”
Baltej Pannu said that the second part of Badal's agenda is to capture Sikh institutions and then use them for political and personal gains.
Referring to the statements Pannu said
Referring to statements made in the Punjab Assembly about SGPC resources being used for langar at someone else's expense, Pannu said, “Religious institutions were also created to serve the interests of the Badal family. Why were people facing serious controversies given priority by the Badal leadership again and again?”
Referring to a recent program held at Gurdwara Kandh Sahib in Batala, he said Sucha Singh Langah was given the platform despite opposition from the Sikh community. He compared it with action taken against others and asked what message such decisions send about the functioning of Sikh institutions.
Baltej Pannu said that the biggest question is why people like Amarjeet Singh Chawla were given such huge powers in institutions built to serve the Sikh community. He asked, "How can two permanent rooms be provided? How can a woman be kept there for months? How were vehicles and servants provided? Who spent all this?"
Raising direct questions on the political stand, he said
Baltej Pannu raised direct questions on the repeated political stand of SGPC chief Harjinder Singh Dhami and said that Dhami has "Sukhbir Singh Badal's soldier" Told. He said, "He should now tell the Sikh community whether he is working as a soldier of the Badal family or as a servant of Guru Sahib."
Baltej Pannu demanded that the SGPC put up boards and photographs outside Gurudwaras and Sarais of those who have now been expelled from Sikhism so that the sangat remain alert. he adds, "The country has the right to know why this action has been taken against those who have been expelled from the religion."
Question on silence of Badal family leaders
Questioning the silence of Badal family leaders, Pannu asked why Harsimrat Kaur Badal did not say a word on the allegations related to the woman, and why Bikram Majithia and other leaders who often go live on every issue are silent now? "Sukhbir Badal should answer who gave so much power to Amarjeet Chawla, why was this power given and how were the institutions under SGPC allowed to reach such a situation. The Badal family has already caused a lot of damage to Punjab during the years of their rule and the drug and gangster problems that emerged during that period have caused a lot of damage to the state."
Baltej Pannu said, "The Bhagwant Mann government is working to bring Punjab back on track, but the damage being done to Sikh institutions by the Badal faction has become another serious challenge."
AAP Punjab's media in-charge appealed to Sikh intellectuals and the entire Sikh community across the world to raise their voice. "If Sikh intellectuals and Punjabis remain silent, the Badal family and their 'Jundli' will cause further harm to Sikh institutions and Punjab. Baltej Pannu appealed to Punjabis and the Sikh community to raise their voice before further damage is done. He said that now the time has come that Sukhbir Badal and the people he has placed in Sikh institutions should be thrown out of the politics of Punjab and these institutions."