Harsimrat claims ‘over 600 beadbis’ took place in a decade

NEW DELHI: Shiromani Akali Dal leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Thursday turned the heat on Punjab‘s ruling AAP and main opposition party the Congress over the sensitive issue of sacrilege, or “beadbi”, claiming that the state had witnessed more than 600 such incidents over the past decade.The SAD MP also acknowledged and apologised for one sacrilege incident that took place during the Shiromani Akali Dal’s tenure in Punjab.She said, “Unfortunately, one incident of Beadbi happened during our tenure and we are very sorry for it. We have vowed that until we punish the perpetrators, we will not rest.”Targeting the AAP and Congress, Harsimrat said, ” But what about the Aam Aadmi Party and the Congress that politicised this sensitive issue. What about the 600+ beadbis which have happened in the last 10 years. What about the people who swore on Gutka Sahab and promised to end the drug trade.”She further said, “What about those who gave guarantees of giving justice in Beadbi cases in the first 4 months? Why is no one asking them for answers? Why aren’t you holding them accountable?!”Harsimrat also targeted the Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government and appealed to the people of Punjab to end the “remote control rule” of the state from Delhi.“Punjab is for Punjabis,” the former Union minister said, adding that restoring peace and communal harmony, tackling gangster rule and ending the drug menace would be the top priorities of the SAD if it returned to power.She was addressing a party conference held to mark the 41st martyrdom anniversary of Sant Harchand Singh Longowal.Referring to the recent attack on SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal in Maharashtra’s Nanded, Harsimrat said her husband would not be intimidated by those who had attacked him twice.She also urged Punjabis to get rid of what she called “divisive forces” that were looting the state and destroying the future of its youth.Urging people to consider why Sukhbir Badal was being attacked in ‘Gurughar’, she said that “it is clear this is being done by cowards who have become stooges of governments”.

She said the SAD had always prioritised peace, communal harmony and the development of Punjab, which, according to her, had not gone down well with its opponents. She accused them of trying to weaken and split the party by encouraging fringe elements.Calling the attack on the SAD president inside a gurdwara against the principles of Sikhism, Harsimrat said, “Yes, as a wife and a mother, I did get scared for a moment, but today I can strongly look you in the eyes and assert we are all not scared and never will be.”She said this resolve had unsettled SAD’s opponents, who had realised that Sukhbir Badal was in “chardikala” (in high spirits) and would continue to follow in the footsteps of his father and former Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal by working for communal harmony and the welfare of Punjabis.