Minna Zutshi, Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, June 9. Reflecting the BJP unease over its alliance partner SAD’s alleged role in the construction of Operation Bluestar Memorial, BJP general secretary Kamal Sharma today said Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal should dissuade the Sikh bodies from raising an emotive issue like the Operation Bluestar.
“We understand that the state government’s role in the SGPC is limited. Besides, the construction of the memorial is a sensitive issue. However, the government would have to play a proactive role so that the voters’ mandate for peace, harmony and development is respected,” he said while talking to mediapersons in Ludhiana today. Emphasising that there was no emotive issue in the recent Assembly polls, he reiterated that the people of Punjab wanted peace and harmony in the state.
Though the BJP, as the coalition partner in the government, shared responsibility on the memorial issue, the party was firm that it would discourage any politics that was regressive, he said. “Punjab has passed through a tough phase. There are some elements that want to rake up emotive issues. The BJP is committed to ensure that Punjab does not go back to dark days,” he said. Admitting that the BJP was a minor coalition partner, he said post-civic polls, the district-level coordination committees would be formed for better coordination between the workers of the two parties.
