Sukhbir Singh Badal takes on MP Amritpal Singh: ‘those who destroyed Punjab, now active in guise of devout Sikhs’

Sikhs' former tormentors have resurfaced as devout Sikhs, so claims Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal while attacking Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh. These individuals responsible for assassinating former SAD president Sant Harchand Singh Longowal, Bhai Shaminder Singh, and Gurcharan Singh Tohra are active again, Badal warned. He urged unity to avoid allowing them to inflict further harm. If the SAD fails to unite, they will loot homes, destroy Gurughars, usher in gunda raj, and destroy the state.

Addressing the SAD's Punjab Bachao campaign in Malaut, Badal accused Amritpal Singh, who leads the Akali Dal Waris Punjab De, of being a stooge of Delhi-based parties aiming to dismantle the SAD. He questioned how someone who transformed from a Dubai-based clean-shaven youth into a Waris (heir) of Punjab could be trusted. He criticized Amritpal's ignorance of Sikh rehat maryada, his support for drugs, and his brother's drug addiction.

Badal also alleged Amritpal's involvement in the murder of Waris Punjab De activist Gurpreet Singh Harinau. He further claimed Amritpal's family were Congressmen who never protested against the Darbar Sahib attack in 1984.

Badal criticized Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for passing an anti-sacrilege law against Sikh 'maryada', despite opposition from the SAD. He claimed all these elements are uniting against the SAD but show no opposition to the Congress party, which attacked Sri Darbar Sahib. He praised the previous Akali government's initiatives, such as beautifying the surroundings of Sri Darbar Sahib, establishing Virasat-e-Khalsa and Ghallughara memorials, and upgrading Durgiana Mandir and Ram Teerath Sthal.

However, he warned that attempts are being made to create anger against the Badal family and SAD, despite none being named in sacrilege cases that have risen to 600 in the last decade under Congress and AAP governments. If his party forms the next government, Badal promised to increase the Shagun grant for the marriage of girls from underprivileged sections to Rs 1 lakh, and raise the flour given under the aata-daal scheme.