Chandigarh: Taking exception to Rahul Gandhi's remark on people from Punjab working in Italy, the Shiromani Akali Dal on Friday alleged that it was a "deliberate and mischievous attempt" to denigrate people from the state and demanded a public apology.

Earlier addressing an election rally at Mansa, the Congress General Secretary had said that, "My mother (Sonia Gandhi) is from Italy and in her fields its the people from Punjab who are contributing a lot."

In a statement issued here, Youth Akali Dal (YAD)President Bikram Singh Majithia said that every Punjabi is proud of the fact that due to their entrepreneurial qualities to excel in any alien atmosphere, they have made it top in various countries of the world.

He said that Rahul had deliberately not dwelled on the fact that Punjabis are ministers in Canada, judges of Supreme Court in the USA and Punjabi scientists have been awarded Nobel.

Demanding an apology from Gandhi family, Majithia said that the SAD would not allow anyone to demean Punjabis, who have made a mark in various countries.

PTI