Arrest of IG Umranangal not enough to soothe wounded feelings

Chandigarh, February 19: Senior Congress leader and Cooperation and Jail Minister, Punjab, S. Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa has reacted strongly to the demand by former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal seeking registration of sedition case against Local Government Minister Mr. Navjot Singh Sidhu and said that Congress doesn't need certification in patriotism from the akalis. Going further, S. Randhawa said that what do those people who had teared apart copies of the Indian Constitution, are trying to prove now by masquerading as nationalists.

Former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal

He also said that the Congress came into existence even before independence and is the only party to make the largest contribution to the freedom movement. Attacking further, S. Randhawa questioned the former Chief Minister as to what compulsion prompted him to act as a patriot now when during the dark days of terrorism the former Chief Minister used to attend bhog ceremonies of the terrorists. S. Randhawa also added that due to these double standards adopted by the akalis, Punjab had to endure a very traumatic period. 

Calling akali leaders the prime guilty in the behbal kalan and kotkapura firing incidents, the Congress leader said that the arrest of IG Umranangal alone won't suffice but in order to soothe the wounded feelings of the Sikh Sangat, action against those elements is also needed upon whose orders Umranangal ordered firing. The then Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and the Home Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal must be booked under section 302.

Navjot Singh Sidhu

S. Randhawa also dared the akali leaders to brand it's alliance partner BJP as traitor whose government released terrorist maulana masood azhar 20 years back. The Congress leader elaborated that the sole agenda of the akali dal and BJP is to foment communal hatred and make people fight against each other and the unity and integrity of the country is not on the agenda of either of these two parties.