DW BUREAU / Chandigarh

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal today issued a clarion appeal for unity under the flag of the SAD to counter the enemies of the Sikh Panth, saying "attempts are being made to weaken the SAD as well as Sikh institutions to divide the Sikh community".

Addressing a religious gathering held here by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Jaito Morcha, the SAD president said "the enemies of the Sikh panth realize our strength is in our institutions. That is why the Shiromani Committee was broken to create a separate Gurdwara Committee for Haryana. Recently the Maharashtra cabinet even tried to take over the Takht Sri Hazur Sahib Board by nominating twelve government nominees to the Board. The Patna Board has also been taken over".

Asserting that all this was happening due to the 'gaddar' amongst the community, Mr Sukhbir Badal said "these persons are masquerading as one amongst us even as they work to weaken the strength of the community". He said the Shiromani Akali Dal had always worked for the welfare of the quom. "When you entrusted us with the welfare of the State we worked to preserve our glorious heritage by creating monuments commemorating the Vadda and Chhota Ghullugharas as well as iconic figures like Banda Singh Bahadur. We beautified the precincts of Sri Darbar Sahib besides creating the Virasat-e-Khalsa monument".

Badal also decried attempts to label the brave Sikh community as separatists. He said it was condemnable that a Sikh officer who was trying to do his duty in West Bengal had been termed a Khalistani. "The country must remember that the Jaito Morcha was labeled as the first fight for independence by our founding fathers. Sikhs contributed the most to the freedom struggle and even now guard the borders with China and Pakistan".

The SAD president also called for introspection amongst the community. "We should introspect how the Congress party ? which attacked our holiest shrine ? Shri Darbar Sahib was able to resurrect itself

in Punjab.
(editor@dailyworld.in)