Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira has launched a scathing attack against the Bhagwant Mann-led Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab, accusing it of offering nothing more than lip service to the supreme sacrifice of Guru Teg Bahadur while acting against the very principles the ninth Sikh Guru stood for.
Government Actions Contradict Guru's Philosophy
Khaira stated that the current Punjab government's actions remain in stark contradiction to Guru Teg Bahadur's timeless philosophy. He reminded that the Sikh Guru had laid down his life to uphold human rights and resist tyranny and oppression imposed by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.
In a powerful comparison, Khaira alleged that the AAP government is inflicting vengeance upon its own people by engaging in what he called fake encounters, imposing draconian laws such as the NSA, suppressing dissent in Punjab, and crushing human rights under an iron fist, while also gagging the media.
Misuse of Public Funds and SGPC Rights
The Congress MLA made serious allegations about the financial handling of commemorative events, accusing the AAP government of squandering hundreds of crores of public funds on publicity campaigns in the name of Guru Teg Bahadur. He claimed these expenditures were motivated by ulterior political interests rather than genuine reverence for the Sikh Guru.
Further escalating his criticism, Khaira accused the ruling party of infringing upon the rights of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the elected Sikh body, by attempting to hijack the martyrdom of Guru Teg Bahadur for partisan political purposes.
Assembly Speaker Accused of Discrimination
Khaira also targeted Punjab Assembly Speaker Kultar Sandhwan, alleging a discriminatory attitude during assembly proceedings. He claimed that the speaker allowed only one speaker from the Congress while permitting 10 speakers from the ruling AAP, showing clear bias in the house.
Guru Teg Bahadur Ji's sacrifice was for truth, justice, and human dignity. It is shameful that the AAP government is exploiting his legacy for political gains while trampling upon the very values he stood for, Khaira emphasized in his statement.
The Congress leader concluded with an appeal to the government to desist from using Sikh heritage and the supreme sacrifice of Guru Teg Bahadur Ji for propaganda purposes and instead follow his teachings of justice, liberty, and humanity in both policy and practice.
