PATIALA: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Singh Badal today said the centre was misusing the position of the Punjab Governor by summoning officers for explanations to the Raj Bhawan even as he asserted the Governor should not become a mouth piece of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Addressing a massive congregation at the Gurdwara Sahib Patshahi Nauvi near here where a Akhand Path was conducted to pay homage to Sant Ram Singh Singhri Wale and farmers from the district who were martyred during the ongoing farmer agitation, the SAD President said the office of the Governor was being misused in the same manner as was happening in West Bengal.
Mr Sukhbir Badal said the SAD had approached the Governor with numerous memorandums on public issues like the hooch tragedy, liquor and sand mafia doings and criminalization of politics during the last few years but the latter did not act on a single issue. “Now when the interest of BJP workers is at stake the Governor has taken prompt action and summoned the senior most officers for a dressing down”.
Mr Badal also took on chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh on the same issue, saying instead of objecting to the Governor’s action in the media he should have stopped his officers from going to the Raj Bhavan. “This and several other actions of the chief minister prove that he is playing a double game and is essentially with the central government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and not with the farmers”. He also highlighted how chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh had not only amended the APMC Act which contained the same provisions as those in the agri laws and was refusing to repeal it.
Earlier speaking at the congregation where ‘ardas’ was conducted for the success of the ongoing agitation, Mr Badal said the current situation had arisen due to the arrogance of the Prime Minister. He said despite opposition to the Farm Ordinances immediately after they were promulgated Mr Modi announced he would not budge come what may. “It is this attitude which has made the farmer agitation even stronger. The longer the PM delays repealing of the agri laws the stronger the agitation will become”, he added.
Mr Badal said the Kisan Andolan was not restricted to any State now but had become an agitation of the entire country and no one was left untouched. He said he had requested Akali workers to participate in the agitation wholeheartedly. He said had also entrusted Akali workers to look after the fields of farmers who were away in Delhi. “This is our responsibility. We can’t progress if the farmer is not content”, he added.
Speaking on the occasion, senior leader Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra said the chief minister was not doing his duty as elected head of state. He said Capt Amarinder Singh should lead Punjabis in their struggle to get the hated agri laws repealed and should not limit himself to being a leader of the Congress party. “More than fifty persons have been martyred in the cause but the chief minister seems unperturbed”, he added.
Others who spoke on the occasion included Former SGPC President Kirpal Singh Badungar , Dr Daljeet Singh Cheema, Surjit Singh Rakhra, Harinderpal Singh Chandumajra Jagdeep Singh Cheema and DS Guru. The families of martyrs Labh Singh, Gurpreet Singh and Harbans Singh from Sanaur, Bhim Singh from Samana and Pal Singh from Nabha constituency were given a cheque of Rs one lakh by the SGPC on the occasion. Those injured were given Rs 20, 000 each