Sukhbir Singh Badal lashed out at his former ally, the BJP, for farm laws (archive)
Amritsar:
Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal lashed out at the ruling BJP over the farmers’ protest on Tuesday afternoon, accusing his former ally of being “the real tukde-tukde gang “and destroy national unity by” maliciously pushing patriotic Punjab into communal flames “for political gain.
Badal, who removed the Akalis from the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance in protest against agricultural laws, also said the BJP was “blatantly” inciting violence between Hindus and Sikhs.
“The BJP is the real one tukde tukde gang in the country. He has shattered national unity … blatantly inciting Hindus against Muslims and now desperately turning peace-loving Hindu Punjabi against their Sikh brothers, especially farmers, “Badal said at a meeting in Amritsar.
“They are pushing the patriotic Punjab into communal flames,” he warned.
BJP is the real thing #TukdeTukdeGang in the country. He has shattered national unity, blatantly inciting Hindus against Muslims and is now desperately turning peace-loving Punjabi Hindus against their Sikh brothers. #farmers. They are pushing the patriotic Punjab into communal flames. pic.twitter.com/7adwVmoDgj
– Sukhbir Singh Badal (@officeofssbadal) December 15, 2020
Badal’s attack on the BJP underscores the current bad blood between the two sides.
The Akalis used to highlight their relationship with the BJP as one that ensured peace in Punjab after the bloodshed of the 1980s, and blamed Congress for the disharmony between Hindus and Sikhs.
Punjab has become the focal point of a nationwide protest, involving thousands of farmers, against the agricultural laws. Several rounds of talks with the center have failed; Farmers insist the laws should be removed, but the center is only willing to modify problem sections.
With the BJP struggling to contain the protests (or move forward in solving farmers’ problems), conspiracy theories circulating on social media (and repeated by party leaders) have alleged that “anti-national” forces and “Khalistanis” are behind the protests. .
On Sunday, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said that “tukde tukde“The gang had taken over the protests. Former Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said” leftist “and” Maoist “elements had hijacked the protests, and BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya , said the “Khalistanis” were involved.
“Tukde tukde“is a term coined by right-wing parties to attack the opposition and its supporters.
Sukhbir Badal lashed out at these claims, accusing ministers of “defaming” farmers and asking them to apologize in public, and on Monday attacked again, saying it had become the center’s policy to label those who disagreed. with them as “anti-nationals”.
“If one agrees with NDA, it is desh bhakt. If not, it is a desh drohi or extremist or ‘tukde tukde‘ gang. Son Parkash Singh Badal, who returned his Padma Vibhushan, or Harsimrat Kaur Badal, who resigned from the Union Ministry in protest against agricultural laws, deshdrohis?” I ask.
Most damning of all, the farmers’ unrest is projected as a Sikh vs. Hindu conflict. This started in Delhi and now the same forces want to replicate it in Punjab. SAD is very clear: Punjab will prosper only with communal peace and harmony.# 100YearsShiromaniAkaliDal
– Sukhbir Singh Badal (@officeofssbadal) December 14, 2020
The central government has insisted that it remains open to further talks to resolve this crisis.
Earlier today, while speaking at a function in Gujarat’s Kutch, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said his government “is always committed to the well-being of farmers … will continue to address concerns.” The prime minister also accused the opposition of misleading farmers.
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