CHANDIGARH: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Monday raised strong objections over the decision of Government of India to cancel the Visit of Sikh pilgrims to Pakistan on the occasion of parkash purab of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
The Chief Minister bemoaned that It’s hard to understand whether BJP’s policy is against Pakistan or against its own people adding that it reflects hostile attitude of Modi government towards Punjab. He said that if a Pakistani actress stars in a Punjabi artist’s film, the film is banned by the centre and Punjabis are labelled as traitors. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that it is ultimately The Punjabi artist and our film industry which bears the loss due to the step motherly treatment of the centre.
The Chief Minister said that though the film was shoot much before the unfortunate incident of Pahalgam terrorist attack but banning this movie on this pretext was an injustice. However, he said that the cricket match between India and Pakistan is allowed just because the son of a big sahib desired so. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that BJP led troll army termed Punjabi actors and producers as traitors whereas now everyone is tight lipped when this match was held in the country.
The Chief Minister bemoaned that when the Cricket Board is in the hands of Amit Shah’s son, holding a match with Pakistan suddenly becomes a compulsion for the Indian government. He said that Everyone knows what Pakistan does with this money, owing to its anti-India stance, which it earns from such matches adding that in other words, it is the benefit of Pakistan. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that if India can play a cricket match with Pakistan, then why can’t pilgrims visit Sri Kartarpur Sahib and Sri Nankana Sahib to pay obeisance ?
The Chief Minister further said that it is unfortunate that When disaster strikes Afghanistan, the BJP led national government rushes to send aid to them. However, he said that now when Punjab is facing devastating floods, the BJP-led central government didn’t even release the rightful funds owed to Punjab. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the BJP continuously hold a grudge against Punjab and its people adding that the centre government has not even released Rs 1600 crore announced by the Prime Minister.
The Chief Minister said that until yesterday, Punjab BJP leaders were raising baseless questions on the state government adding he dared Jakhar and Bittu to explain that why the central government is not allowing the jathas to visit Sri Kartarpur Sahib whereas on the other hand cricket match was allowed. He said that Kartarpur Sahib is the holy site where Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji spent the final years of his life, adding that Sri Nankana Sahib is the holy place where the Guru sahib was born. For us, Bhagwant Singh Mann said that these issues are not related to politics or business, but these are issues concerning our emotions as these places are admired by Punjabis as greatest centers of faith and devotion.
The Chief Minister said that Punjabis want to have the darshan of their Guru at these places adding that Stopping devotees from visiting these sacred sites is not just an injustice, but also deeply hurts the religious sentiments of millions of Sikhs. Bhagwant Singh Mann questioned that is Amit Shah’s son more important to the government than millions of Sikh sangat? He appealed the Prime Minister that Politics can wait, cricket can wait, But devotion cannot wait.
The Chief Minister said that both east and west Punjab share a strong bond of brotherhood and culture but these leaders try to weaken it by such conspiracies. He said that today Modi is Prime Minister of the country just because Punjabis had made supreme sacrifices in the national freedom struggle to remove clutches of foreign imperialism. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that selective approval and bans for the vested interests of Modi and company will not be tolerated as Punjab plays a pivotal role in making country self reliant in food production.
The Chief Minister said that packages are given to the state as per the schedule of the elections due to which Assam, Bihar and other states are tidal getting huge packages for development whereas Punjab has been deliberately left behind if flood relief. Slamming the Congress unit of BJP comprising Jakhar, Bittu and others for their dubious stand, he said that these leaders had joined saffron party just to safeguard their vested interests. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that these people of state are well aware of the Dubious character of Akalis, BJP and others as these leaders had plundered wealth of state.
The Chief Minister reiterated that the Modi government is suffering from anti-Punjab syndrome due to which they are hell bent on ruining the state. He said that if the will of BJP led NDA government prevails then they will omit the name of Punjab from the national anthem also. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that said that Punjab doesn't need any NOC of patriotism from anyone especially those in power at centre today.