Congress to challenge Akali Dal with counter-rally in Punjab

Seeking to outdo each other politically, the ruling Congress and the opposition Akali Dal in Punjab are making every effort to make their public rallies on Sunday shows of their strength.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh will hold a rally in Killian Wali in Lambi constituency in Muktsar district, SAD patriarch Parkash Singh Badal's bastion, and the Shiromani Akali Dal will organise a rally in Patiala, the constituency of the scion of the erstwhile Patiala royal family.

Accusing the SAD of exploiting the religious sentiments of people, the Congress said it wants to "expose the dubious and hypocritical face" of Akali leaders through the rally in Lambi.

The opposition SAD wants to highlight the alleged failure of the Amarinder Singh government in honouring his poll promises.

"We all are geared up for a grand rally tomorrow in Lambi. We will expose the misdeeds of the Badals against the Panth (Sikh community) and how they damaged the authority of religious institutions," Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar said Saturday.

The Congress government has deputed several cabinet ministers, including Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa, Manpreet Singh Badal and Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, to make the rally a success.

The SAD, too, appeared confident of showing their strength through the rally in Patiala.

"We are going to have a very big rally in Patiala and all arrangements have been made," SAD spokesman Daljit Singh Cheema said.

He, however, alleged that the state machinery was being misused to prevent people from participating in the rally.

President of Istri Akali Dal, the women wing of the SAD, Jagir Kaur warned the Punjab government against creating hurdles in the way of the party workers.

She claimed she has received reports that the state government was putting restrictions on the movement of party workers to scuttle the rally.

The Akali Dal, which has been passing through a rough patch after the Justice Ranjit Singh Commission report on sacrilege incidents was made public, said Akali stalwart and former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal has been holding meetings with party workers to make the rally a success.

The SAD leadership has been under attack from the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party since the report was made public.

Justice (Retd) Ranjit Singh Commission was set up by the Congress government in April 2017 to investigate the incidents of sacrilege of religious texts. It dealt with the incidents in Burj Jawahar Singh Wala and Bargari and firing incidents at Kotkapura and Behbal Kalan in 2015.

The commission report indicted Parkash Singh Badal for the police action in Kotkapura, where to people died.

A few Akali leaders have expressed discontent over the manner in which the matter was handled by the party in the Punjab Assembly in August when the report was tabled in the House.

The resignation of senior Akali leader Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa from the post of secretary general and the core committee also came as a setback to the SAD.

Meanwhile, the rebel faction of the AAP led by Sukhpal Khaira will organise a protest march on Sunday from Kotkapura to Bargari in Faridkot district.

They have been demanding action against those responsible for the police firing and sacrilege incidents in 2015.

Government official said security has been tightened for in view of the rallies.

(With inputs from agencies.)