:dateline:Senior leaders of ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) seem to go for damage control exercise as they have found their traditional vote bank – the Sikh community, alienates from them gradually.
After Member of Parliament Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, another Akali stalwart and former cabinet minister Seva Singh Sekhwan slammed center government of India which is led by Narendra Modi, for ignoring Sikh concerns.
During a press interview,�Sekhwan said Sikh interests could not be compromised at the cost of relationship of the SAD (B) with BJP.
Reacting on the attitude of Modi government toward Sikhs and Punjabis, he said that the chief minister Parkash Singh Badal should take up this issue with the BJP leadership.
�We hoped that after National democratic alliance (NDA) came to power, Sikh issues would be resolved and Sikhs would get respect, but it is distressing situation that on one hand, Modi government discriminates with Punjab, on the other Sikhs face embarrassment,� he said.
Commenting on the exclusion of Sikh regiment from the republic day parade, Sekhwan said it is deeply disappointing to marginalized Sikhs. ��It is highly surprising that the Sikh regiment was excluded from the R-D parade, irrespective of the opportunity Modi had to convince France president who was chief guest of the event,” he said.
�Such attitude of our alliance partner cannot be tolerated. Our party leaders should not become silent and advocate the Sikh concerns instead of following binds of the alliance,� he added.
They just don’t get it. Badal (and I include his son and family) is part of the problem not the solution. No point trying to save a gangrenous limb when it threatens to kill the body with infection. Amputation and complete disinfection is necessary.