The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) launched a sharp attack on the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab on Saturday, accusing it of orchestrating a political vendetta and using religion as a shield to target its president, Sukhbir Singh Badal. The allegations came during a press conference addressed by senior party leaders.
Allegations of False Case and Harassment
Senior SAD leaders, including Balwinder Singh Bhundur, Maheshinder Singh Grewal, and Dr Daljit Singh Cheema, claimed that after failing politically, the AAP government has now decided to target the SAD leadership. They highlighted the opening of an investigation against Badal, terming it a "vendetta exercise" aimed at framing him in a false case.
The leaders connected a series of events, stating that what began as an attack on Sukhbir Badal in the ‘parikrama’ of Sri Darbar Sahib, which they claim was government-sponsored, has now escalated to the harassment of income tax lawyers in Ludhiana and Bathinda who were associated with the SAD president.
Personal Vendetta and Security Concerns for Majithia
Grewal and Cheema asserted that all these actions are part of a personal vendetta by AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal against the SAD leadership. They declared that Sukhbir Badal would not be intimidated and would continue to expose the AAP government's anti-Punjabi policies.
The leaders also expressed grave concern over the security of senior leader Bikram Singh Majithia. They alleged that after registering a false case against him and pruning his security, central intelligence inputs now suggest he is a target of the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI). They accused the AAP government of inaction, suggesting a desire to see Majithia "eliminated in jail." The SAD demanded his immediate transfer from Nabha jail to a designated jail, warning that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Arvind Kejriwal would be held directly responsible if any harm came to him.
Broader Targeting of Sikh Institutions and Media
Dr. Cheema condemned the government's attempt to link the arrest of an SGPC-hired accountant in the case of the 328 missing saroops (holy scriptures) to target Sukhbir Badal. He pointed out that the main accused in that case is a former SGPC employee, Jaspreet Singh, who now serves as the chairman of the Amritsar Planning Board and heads the Amritsar district unit of the AAP.
Cheema further accused the AAP government of targeting the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the Akal Takht, and media personnel who speak in the public interest. He also slammed CM Mann for not taking action against Delhi AAP leader Atishi for her derogatory remarks against the Sikh Gurus, instead targeting those who shared the clip on social media.
As a next step, Dr. Cheema announced that an SAD delegation would seek an appointment with the Punjab Governor to apprise him of all these developments targeting the senior Akali leadership.
