Patiala: Alleging that Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal was responsible for the crisis in Punjab, Congress Deputy Leader in Lok Sabha Capt Amarinder Singh on Monday appealed to people to not harm Akali workers and jathedars saying that they had played no role in the situation.
Expressing concern over the reported attacks on Akali workers and leaders in the state, Amarinder, in a statement said, "Hold back your anger and vent it at the time of elections, which are not very far, by voting and throwing Badals out."
He urged people to not attack Akali workers and jathedars who were feeling "as aggrieved and victimised as any Punjabi" and condemned the Chief Minister for allegedly abandoning the Akali workers and leaving them at the mercy of angry mobs.
"They are like you and me, and they have no role in what is happening in Punjab today," he said, adding, "rather, they are feeling as hurt and angry as everybody else."
"I have been receiving so many distress calls from Akali workers, jathedars and sarpanchs as they fear for their lives with nobody to listen to and protect them," the former Chief Minister said, while asking people to remain calm and exercise restraint.
The former Chief Minister alleged that it was Badal who had taken control of the SGPC and Akal Takhat, and hardly allowed any freedom to the people managing these institutions.
"When SGPC chief and Akal Takhat jathedar have been rendered powerless and helpless by Badal, we can well imagine the plight of the common Akali workers and jathedars...It is wrong to hold them responsible and make them pay for the sins committed by Badal," he said.
