Perneet Singh, Tribune News Service
Amritsar, September 14. DSGMC Chief and Panthic Morcha leader Paramjeet Singh Sarna today threw an open challenge to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal to enter into a debate with him on a TV channel on the eve of the SGPC elections and let the electorate decide whom it wants to reign in the mini parliament of Sikhs.
Addressing mediapersons here today, Sarna said, “The father-son duo is running away from the Sikh issues. Let them come face to face with me in a debate. I will prove who is the Congress agent? They are boasting of their government’s achievements in the SGPC poll rallies while remaining tightlipped on whether they have any plan to curb apostasy and promote Sikhism.”
He said if the SGPC elections are conducted in a free and fair manner, the Badals will surely get defeated. “The Badals have never campaigned so intensively in any SGPC election which shows how tough fight they are facing. They cannot win the elections this time without resorting to undemocratic ways.” He claimed that the Panthic Morcha has received a good response and they are in a strong position in 80 to 90 seats.
He lashed out at the SAD for raking up political issues in the elections, alleging that the religious issues don’t figure in the ruling party’s agenda. Sarna alleged that “patits” (apostates) are running the poll campaign of the SAD and in some places the RSS and BJP men are also heading their campaign. He stated that if the SAD is serious about not allowing “patits” to caste their vote in the SGPC elections then they should place advertisements in all the newspapers, cautioning them that stern action would be taken against any “patit” found casting vote in the elections.
The DSGMC chief urged the Centre to keep a close watch on Punjab and deploy Central forces to ensure free and fair SGPC elections.
