Chandigarh: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab MLA Manvinder Singh Giaspura launched a scathing attack on the BJP-Akali government for failing to protect the sanctity of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. He said that under the supervision of the government, incidents of theft and repeated desecration of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji took place, after which the police opened fire on peaceful protesters in Kotkapura and Behbal Kalan. He said that the events of 2015 are still a deep wound in the hearts of Punjabis, because Akali Dal Badal used Sri Guru Granth Sahib and the Panth for their political gains while in power in alliance with BJP. Now, despite this dark chapter, efforts are being made to revive the BJP-Akali alliance to remain politically afloat in the sacrilege and firing cases and to carry forward efforts to withdraw the three agricultural laws in Punjab.
The AAP MLA claimed that the people of Punjab will never forgive the culprits of the 2015 sacrilege and firing incident. He demanded that the SIT should clarify who had ordered the police action on peaceful protesters and fix accountability for the deaths of Krishna Bhagwan Singh and Gurjit Singh. He questioned how the then Home Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal could claim to be unaware of the theft incident, when this information had reached his own office. He alleged that when senior police officers were being instructed to take action against peaceful protesters, Sukhbir Singh Badal was sitting in a five star hotel.
In a press conference on Friday, MLA Manvinder Singh Giyaspura said, “Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji was stolen on June 1, 2015, during the SAD-BJP government, but the government did not take this incident seriously. The then Home Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal had told the SIT during interrogation that he had no information about this theft. However, the Intelligence Wing had sent a report and Sukhbir Badal's personal secretary also told the SIT. Told that there was information about this incident when the Home Minister's own office had received information, then how could he remain unaware?
The AAP MLA said that even after the theft, when posters were put up in September 2015 asking Sikhs to find their stolen Guru, the government failed to take action. He further said, “The lack of timely action emboldened the perpetrators of the next sacrilege in October, when the remains of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji were found scattered on the streets. This incident has broken the hearts of Sikhs across the world.”
Questions raised on Kotkapura shooting incident
MLA Manvinder Singh Giyaspura said that people had gathered peacefully in Kotkapura, where Ardas and Kirtan were taking place, but water cannons were used on the protesters. The MLA said that he himself was present in that protest. He said, “SIT has already filed the charge sheet in the Kotkapura firing case, in which legal action is going on against Sukhbir Badal, Charanjit Sharma, Paramraj Singh Umranangal and Sumedh Singh Saini and they are currently out on bail. The main question before the SIT is who ordered the firing and who gave the instructions to remove the people who were protesting peacefully.”
The AAP MLA pointed out that even more tragic were the incidents that took place at Behbal Kalan on October 14, where two youths, Krishna Bhagwan Singh and Gurjeet Singh, were killed in police firing on peacefully protesting people. Sukhbir Badal has repeatedly claimed that he was not in Punjab at that time. But the court papers related to his bail show that Sukhbir Badal was present in Punjab and was staying in a five-star hotel. From there, instructions were being given to senior police officers including Charanjit Sharma, Paramraj Singh Umranangal and Sumedh Singh Saini. The people of Punjab want to know who ordered the firing and who gave the instructions to remove the protesters. Sukhbir Badal himself had confessed his role in these incidents in front of Sri Akal Takht Sahib.
Demand to present evidence before SIT
Referring to the statement given by Giani Raghbir Singh to the SIT, MLA Manvinder Singh Giyaspura said that the details of the confession given by Sukhbir Singh Badal in front of Shri Akal Takht Sahib are part of the record. He said, “If this agreement and other evidence are already part of the record, then why should they not be produced before the court and the SIT? Why should those responsible not be given the harshest punishment? Punjab has the right to know who gave the orders and who was responsible for the death of Krishna Bhagwan Singh and Gurjit Singh.”
The AAP MLA also noted that the proposed new alliance between the Akali Dal and the BJP shows that both parties have not learned any lessons from the past. He said that this alliance is being made because once again there is a BJP government at the Center and Sukhbir Badal is expecting political protection in the cases related to sacrilege and deaths of Krishna Bhagwan Singh and Gurjit Singh. The proposed Akali-BJP alliance is not in the interest of Punjab or the Panth. This is being done because there is a BJP government at the Center and Sukhbir Badal wants political protection in these matters. Sukhbir Badal is once again compromising the interests of Punjab and the sect for political gains.”
MLA Manvinder Singh Giyaspura further said that this proposed agreement is also related to efforts to withdraw three agricultural laws in Punjab. He said, “During the farmers’ agitation, more than 750 farmers lost their lives due to the agricultural laws, and Sukhbir Singh Badal is once again compromising the interests of Punjab for his political gains.”
The AAP MLA said that the people of Punjab are keeping a close eye on the action of the SIT and will never forget those responsible for the sacrilege and death of two young protesters. He said, “Those who have hurt the sentiments of the Sikh community and those responsible for the firing will finally get justice. The wheels of justice may move slowly, but justice will definitely be served.”
Mention of strict law on sacrilege
He mentioned that the Bhagwant Mann government has taken steps to ensure strict punishment for sacrilege by bringing in strict laws, under which there will be no bail and the punishment can be life imprisonment. Manvinder Singh Giyaspura said, “Those who are afraid of this law are trying to create objections and obstacles against it. On the other hand, senior lawyers and intellectuals fighting for the rights of Punjab have supported this law and considered it right. The Bhagwant Mann government is fully committed to providing strict punishment for sacrilege and bringing the culprits to justice.”