The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) claimed on Friday that the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has quietly abandoned its proposed “Dharam Yudh Morcha.” The party raised concerns about why there was no announcement of any events or preparations just days before the movement was set to commence on July 19. This revelation comes at a time when the Akali Dal is attempting to regain its political footing following electoral defeats.
During a press conference in Chandigarh, AAP’s Punjab media in-charge Baltej Pannu stated that the announcement was never intended to initiate a serious public movement but rather to create political friction with the Bhagwant Mann government.
Lack of Clarity on Movement Plans
Pannu noted that SAD leader Sukhbir Singh Badal had announced nearly a month ago that the party would commence a march after paying respects at the Akal Takht on July 19. However, he pointed out that with only two days remaining, there has been no public disclosure of any program or framework for the movement. He claimed that the proposed movement was not mentioned in the recent core committee meeting of the Akali Dal, indicating that the party has quietly retreated from its own call to action. Pannu questioned the party’s intentions, asking why, if the Akali Dal was serious about starting the movement on the set date, they had not shared details about the program, strategy, or leadership.
Criticism of SAD’s Track Record
The AAP leader also criticized SAD’s past, accusing the party of misleading the people of Punjab and allowing the drug problem to escalate during their tenure from 2007 to 2017. Referring to the sacrilege incidents of 2015, Pannu mentioned the theft of the Guru Granth Sahib, subsequent sacrilege events, police firing in Behbal Kalan and Kotkapura, and the destruction of evidence, all of which occurred under the SAD-BJP government. He further alleged that after charges were filed in these cases, several Akali leaders, including former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, were granted bail. Citing comments from the Faridkot court, Pannu claimed that Sukhbir Singh Badal’s conduct during the sacrilege incident was questioned. Additionally, he accused previous Akali governments of working against the family of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra instead of delivering justice.