Amritsar: The Congress and the SAD engaged in a bitter war of words on Saturday over Rahul Gandhi’s visit to the Golden Temple, with the latter demanding an apology from the ruling party’s president for Operation Blue Star and the former accusing Akalis of indulging in “shallow” politics. Gandhi, accompanied by Punjab CM Amarinder Singh, visited the Golden Temple late on Friday night, soon after his arrival in Amritsar to mark the centenary of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal held the Congress responsible for the “attack” on the Sikh shrine, also known as Harmandir Sahib. “Punjab CM Amarinder Singh should have asked Rahul to tender an apology for the attack on Harmandir Sahib in 1984,” she in Bathinda. Earlier, she said in a tweet, “Pb CM @capt_amarinder took @RahulGandhi to Sri Akal Takht Sahib but lacked courage to ask him admit the @INCIndia’s sin of demolishing Sikhs’ highest religio-temporal seat with tanks & mortars. What a contrast with demand for British apology for #JallianwalaBaghMassacre!”
The Union minister’s comments drew sharp reactions from the Congress. “Did you, your husband @officeofssbadal or father, Parkash S Badal, ever apologise for your great grandfather, Sardar Sunder Singh Majithia’s lavish dinner to Gen Dyer on the day of Jallianwala Bagh massacre? He was later knighted in 1926 for his loyalty and his deeds,” Singh tweeted. Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar attacked the Akalis. He alleged the SAD had a “small thinking” and was indulging in “shallow” politics.
