CHANDIGARH—Citing references from former Punjab CM Surjit Singh Barnala’s book Quest for freedom, Punjab congress spokesperson Sukhpal Khaira today appealed to Sri Akal Takht Sahib to take back the title of “Panth Ratan” from Chief Minister Parkash Badal in view of his false claims that he was in jail during the Indian Army attack on Sri Darbar Sahib Sri Amritsar Sahib.
Khaira quoted Barnala’s book, “In the book, the former CM clearly stated that he and Badal were arrested from their respective houses on June 10, 1984″—days after the siege on Amritsar Sahib ended—”They were subsequently flown to Bhopal in a BSF airplane to be finally lodged in comfortable guest houses and tourist huts at Panchmari, a small hill station in Madhya Pradesh.”
Some photographs of Badal were also made public by Khaira in which Badal was seen attending the ‘shagun’ or engagement ceremony of Pirthi Singh, son of Jathedar Roop Singh at their residence in Gurhi Sanghar village (Gidderbaha) on June 3, 1984. Badal can be seen addressing a gathering in one of the photos while in some he was seated beside his brother Gurdas Badal.
“While hundreds of Sikh youth sacrificed their lives during the years of [the Sikh Freedom Movement] on incitement by Akali leaders, Badal conveniently chose to send his son Sukhbir Badal to the US on the pretext of education.
He also said, “It is shameful for Badal, a mature politician of 88 years to tell a naked lie for his narrow political ends.”
