CHANDIGARH: Punjabis residing in Punjab, across the rest of India, and abroad are deeply hurt by the insensitive and derogatory remarks made about Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, the ninth Guru of the Sikhs, by senior Aam Aadmi Party leader and former Chief Minister of Delhi, Atishi Marlena, said Ashwani Sharma, Working President of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Punjab. The remarks were made while discussions were underway in the Delhi Assembly in connection with the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji.
Terming Atishi’s remarks as “shameful, ” “insulting, ” and “deeply offensive” to Sikh sentiments, Sharma said, “This is a clear act of sacrilege committed by Atishi, which is highly condemnable and absolutely unpardonable.”
Sharma further stated that Arvind Kejriwal’s anti-Sikh mindset is evident from his continued silence on this serious issue. “What more can be expected from Arvind Kejriwal, who did not induct a single Sikh into the Delhi Cabinet during his tenure as Chief Minister, failed to take a firm and proactive stand on reopening or fast-tracking cases related to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, and took no meaningful steps for the rehabilitation of the victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh carnage, ” he added.
“If Arvind Kejriwal has even an iota of respect for the Sikh Gurus, he should immediately remove Atishi Marlena as Leader of the Opposition in the Delhi Assembly and expel her from the Aam Aadmi Party, ” Sharma concluded.