Leader of Opposition and senior Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa said that the attack on Sukhbir Singh Badal outside Golden Temple Amritsar, is deeply unfortunate and unequivocally condemnable. “The incident is a stark reminder of the need for responsible discourse and vigilance in Punjab. It is imperative that we, as a society, reflect on the underlying causes and ensure that our responses are measured and constructive,” Bajwa said.”For too long, I have emphasised the importance of addressing the developments in Punjab with a profound sense of responsibility and foresight. This incident should serve as a wake-up call for all stakeholders political leaders, social organizations, and the public to come together and foster an environment of dialogue and peace,” he added.”We must collectively work towards ensuring that Punjab remains a land of mutual respect, understanding, and tranquility, in keeping with its rich heritage.I urge the authorities to conduct a thorough investigation while also calling for restraint and unity among all sections of society during this sensitive time,” the Congress leader said.Senior BJP leader and former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh also condemned the attempted murder on Badal, calling it a “violation of Sikh Maryada.””Badal had sought forgiveness from the Akal Takht and was undergoing the punishment pronounced on him, inside the Golden Temple complex. Those behind the attack on the Akali leader had violated the Sikh Maryada,” he said, adding that Punjab “has already suffered a lot during the 1980s and 1990s and it cannot afford another dark era.”Notably, the Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of Sikhs, had on Monday conferred ‘tankhah’ on SAD members Sukhbir Badal, senior leader Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, and former Punjab minister Bikram Singh Majithia, Sukhbir’s brother-in-law.The leaders were pronounced ‘tankhaiya’ (guilty of religious misconduct) by the Akal Takht for mistakes committed by the SAD government in Punjab from 2007 to 2017.The Sikh clergy directed had Badal and others to serve as a ‘sewadar’, wash dishes, clean shoes and toilets at the Golden Temple, three months after declaring him guilty.Badal has been wearing blue clothes since Tuesday to signify his position as ‘sewadar’ and a plague around his neck acknowledging his ‘misdeeds’. He held a spear in one hand and was seated on a wheelchair as he had recently fractured his leg. Dhindsa, too, was conferred the same punishment. He was also seen in a wheelchair due to old age. The two were positioned near the entrance of the Golden Temple and served as ‘sewadar’ for one hour.
Source link
