SAD expresses deep anguish at increase in sacrilege cases
Chandigarh: The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today expressed deep anguish that the increase in frequency of incidents of desecration of Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji had increased after the formation of the new Congress government and asked it to take immediate steps to instill trust in the people by solving all such cases and exposing the culprits. In a statement here, party MP and general secretary Prem Singh Chandumajra said the SAD had all along been asserting that the eruption of sacrilege cases during SAD-BJP rule was part of a deep rooted conspiracy to divide Punjab and ruin peace and communal harmony in the State. “Recent events are proving this contention right as sacrilege incidents have increased ever since the new government took charge of the State”. Mr Chandumajra said since the Congress was in power now it could no longer take the easy route of pinning blame for the sacrilege incidents on the SAD as it was wont to in the opposition. “Now it is not only the responsibility of the Congress to take steps to stop these incidents but also expose those who are responsible for the same. We have always been maintaining that political elements who stood to gain the most by defaming the SAD were behind the desecration incidents. Now it is up to the new government to expose these elements before the public”, Mr Chandumajra added. The SAD leader meanwhile gave a call to the people to take up the responsibility of stopping such incidents as a social duty. “I urge Punjabis to guard their sacred places be it gurdwaras, mandirs or mosques by resorting to self vigil or even thikri pehra if needed. This will send out a clear message to mischievous elements that such desecrations will not be allowed in Punjab”. He said the State police could also do its job by increasing night patrolling in rural areas. Mr Chandumajra said the new government must keep in mind that Punjabis wanted peace and development to continue in the State at all costs. He said continued cases of sacrilege would not only derail this but also scare off potential investors. “The government must move fast and get to the bottom of the huge number of sacrilege cases which have been reported from Muktsar, Ludhiana, Sangrur, Faridkot, Tarn Taran and Ferozepur in the last 45 days. The SAD-BJP government had solved all cases of sacrilege except for a few whose leads had been given to the new government. It is unfortuate that the Congress government is adopting a casual and indifferent approach to such an important issue which touches the core of our belief system by dragging its feet on investigation of sacrilege cases. It must pull up its socks and pay attention to solving such cases immediately”, Mr Chandumajra added. — PTC News
