SAD Counters Sacrilege Allegations, Targets AAP Over Dera Sirsa Links
The Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) launched a sharp attack on the Aam Aadmi Party government on Wednesday. Speaking at the Maghi rally, SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal accused AAP of colluding with Dera Sirsa head Gurmeet Ram Rahim. He claimed this collusion involved the sensitive 2015 sacrilege cases of Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
Turning Tables on Sacrilege Issue
Badal alleged that both the Congress and AAP had politicized the sacrilege issue to target his party. "The Congress and AAP politicised the sensitive issue of the sacrilege of Sri Guru Granth Sahib to defame SAD," he told the gathering. He made a bold claim that incidents of sacrilege began in Punjab only after AAP entered the state in 2014.
Referring to the Malerkotla case, Badal pointed out that an AAP MLA had already been convicted in a sacrilege matter. "Once we come to power, we will probe AAP's role in the sacrilege incidents to get to the bottom of this conspiracy," he declared firmly.
Allegations of Shielding Gurmeet Ram Rahim
Senior party leader Maheshinder Grewal leveled serious accusations against the AAP government. He claimed the administration was deliberately shielding Gurmeet Ram Rahim by delaying prosecution. Grewal revealed that the case against the Dera Sirsa head had been shifted from Faridkot to Chandigarh.
"There is no stay in the case. Then why has the prosecution not started?" Grewal questioned sharply. He alleged the delay aimed to allow witnesses to turn hostile. Grewal also criticized the repeated paroles granted to Gurmeet Ram Rahim, calling this "rubbing salt in the wounds of the Sikhs."
Grewal claimed there had been 120 sacrilege incidents during AAP's tenure. He emphasized that the alleged conspiracy behind these incidents remained uncovered.
First Direct Accusation from Party Stage
This marked the first time SAD directly accused AAP of colluding with Gurmeet Ram Rahim from the party stage. Badal also alleged that the AAP government was now targeting SAD leaders. "They want to register a case against me. I am ready. Like Parkash Singh Badal, I will not bow," he stated defiantly.
Badal questioned what consequences would follow for Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. He claimed Punjabis wanted an end to AAP rule. Badal appealed for support for a regional party to safeguard the state's future.
2027 Election Promises Unveiled
Using the Maghi rally platform, SAD set the tone for the 2027 Assembly elections. Badal announced a series of poll promises that included:
- Free tubewell connections for farmers without one
- Interest-free loans of Rs 10 lakh for youth
- Removal of road tax on motorcycles
The SAD president said his party remained committed to correcting historical injustices. He specifically mentioned the diversion of Punjab's water to Rajasthan through the Rajasthan Canal. Badal also promised to reserve government jobs for Punjabis.
Other commitments included restarting the Kabaddi Cup and livestock championships. The party vowed to tackle gangsterism and drug trafficking if SAD returned to power.
Call for Unity and Return
Badal made an emotional appeal to leaders who had left the party. He asked them to return to the SAD fold due to anger or grievances. "The party needs unity to save Punjab," he emphasized strongly.
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee president Harjinder Singh Dhami also addressed the conference. He urged the Sikh community to identify forces trying to weaken SAD and its religious institutions.
The rally clearly positioned SAD against AAP on the sacrilege issue. It set the stage for political battles leading to the 2027 elections. The party combined serious allegations with concrete promises to regain voter confidence.
