Sukhbir Singh Badal's apology came at an event to celebrate Akali Dal's foundation day in Amritsar (File)
Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal today apologized for failing to arrest the culprits in the 2015 sacrilege cases when his party ruled Punjab in alliance with the BJP.
His apology came at an event to celebrate the party's foundation day in Amritsar.
"Submitting myself to the Guru's will in the precinct of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, the highest religio-temporal seat of the Sikh quom, I sincerely and unconditionally seek forgiveness of the Khalsa Panth that heinous act of sacrilege of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji happened during Akali govt," he said with folded hands.
He also expressed regret that they couldn't defeat the "conspiracies" that compelled them to hand over the probe to the CBI.
"I also apologize that we couldn't apprehend and punish the culprits during the brief remaining part of our tenure. I am very sad that we couldn't understand and defeat the conspiracies of some so called Panthic individuals and organisations and allowed them to compel us to handover the probe to the CBI," said the 61-year-old leader.
He said these incidents remain the "most painful events" in his life and that of his father Parkash Singh Badal.
Akali Dal was in power in Punjab for a decade since 2007 with Parkash Badal as the Chief Minister. During this period, the party faced criticism over various issues including desecration incidents of the Guru Granth Sahib in 2015 and the killing of two protesters.
The ruling AAP said an apology is sought for the mistakes one commits in ignorance, not for sacrilege of the Guru Granth Sahib. Punjab Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan also called his apology a "desperate act necessitated by near-extinct SAD's political compulsions."
Congress's Partap Singh Bajwa said Sukhbir Badal was trying to "reclaim his lost ground with an apology".
"The real traits of the Badals have already been exposed. The people of Punjab wouldn't accept his apology now. Sukhbir Singh Badal should also have told the Sikh Sangat about who ordered the police to fire on the peacefully protesting Sikhs in Behbal Kalan village of Kotkapura. In this incident, two Sikh youths were killed," said Mr Bajwa.
"In order to please the Dera Sacha Sauda head, Gurmeet Ram Rahim and his followers, the SAD (B) didn't get the sacrilege cases investigated properly," he added.
Meanwhile, Sukhbir Badal also appealed to those who had left the party to return for an "united" Khalsa Panth.
"Only a united Khalsa Panth under a united Akali flag can defeat the massive challenge posed by the enemies of the Panth and Punjab. I appeal to all of you to respond to my appeal for a homecoming," he added.
Following his appeal, two senior former leaders - Des Raj Dhugga and Jasvir Singh Ghuman - joined the party along with their supporters. They had switched to the Samyukt Akali Dal, the party said.