New Delhi:
Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today accused the Congress of trying to promote unrest in Punjab by encouraging anti-national elements and secessionist forces. Addressing a press conference here, he alleged that Congress leaders had shared stage with radical and separatist elements at a recent gathering in Amritsar, where demand for Khalistan was raked up.
Mr Badal, who is the chief of Punjab's ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal), also met President Pranab Mukherjee and demanded that the party should be "derecognised".
"Everyone knows what Punjab went through in the 1980s. Thousands of people were killed. Peace was disturbed. Everyone knows how it started. The Congress encouraged certain anti-national elements to counter the Akali Dal but this went out of control. Under Rahul Gandhi, the Congress is once again is trying to create the same environment in Punjab," he said.
The role of the Congress, he claimed, was "exposed" when its leaders attended the gathering in Amritsar on November 10. Referring to the 'Sarbat Khalsa' or Sikh religious congregation, he said they appointed the convict in Beant Singh assassination case as 'jathedar' or chief priest. He also alleged that videos on social media show Congress leaders directing separatists about what to say at the gathering and claimed that they helped organize the gathering.
Mr Badal also claimed that Ramanjit Singh Sikki, one of the Congress leaders present at the rally, is known to be close to former chief minister and Congress leader Amarinder Singh. Congress leader Inderjit Singh Zira was also present, he added.
"The Congress is trying to distance itself from the congregation. If they were not part of it, why have they taken no action against Congress leaders who were on stage and provided support," he asked.
Rahul Gandhi, he further alleged, went to Punjab and encouraged radical elements at a time when Pakistan's ISI is already on the lookout to foment trouble in the state and demanded action against the Congress.
The President, he told reporters, had assured him that the matter will be looked into. When asked why he was holding a press conference in Delhi, he said there was a need to tell the nation about the "role the Congress is playing".