"SAD not keen to protect Constitutional ethos": Punjab CM Amarinder Singh

Hitting out at Shiromani Akali Dal President Sukhbir Singh Badal's remarks on the Citizenship Amendment Act, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh today said that Badal was more interested in dirty politicking than in protecting the constitutional ethos.

“Do you have no shame? You are ready to destroy the country’s secular character to promote your vested political interests,” said Captain Amarinder, taking on Sukhbir over his latest comments on the issue.

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While people were getting killed in their fight to save India’s secular character, and its Constitution, Sukhbir was busy indulging in politics over an issue of such grave concern, lashed out the Chief Minister, adding that what was at stake was the very survival of the country as a democratic and secular entity. 

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'Does he favor the exclusion of Muslims?'

Responding to Sukhbir’s question, "If he (Amarinder) favors granting Indian citizenship to Sikh minorities who migrated from Afghanistan,” the Chief Minister said, "The issue at hand was not granting citizenship to a particular community. The matter is related to the brazen attempt of the central government, of which Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) was a part, to tinker with the Indian Constitution – the very bedrock of the country’s existence," he added.

“Sukhbir claims SAD has been fighting for the last 10 years for ensuring Indian citizenship to these people (Afghan Sikhs). Without getting into an argument over his claim, I want to ask him whether he has favored exclusion of Muslims from Indian citizenship,” said the Chief Minister.

“Did the SAD not, in its initial reaction to CAB, declare that Muslims should also get the benefit of the amended Act?” the Chief Minister asked, demanding an explanation for the sudden U-turn of the Akalis on the issue. With these contradictory statements, Sukhbir had once again exposed himself as an unprincipled leader with no values or morality, said Captain Amarinder, asking SAD to clarify its stand on the issue.

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India’s secular fabric has always been its strength and any attempt to rip it apart will be vehemently opposed by the Congress, as well as the people of the country, said Captain Amarinder. The BJP and its allies, however, seemed hell-bent on destroying this foundation with its ill-conceived actions, without thinking of the consequences, he said, citing the latest incident of a Kargil war veteran being declared a foreigner and sent to a detention camp in Assam. 

“How can we question the integrity and loyalty of a soldier who has fought for the nation and risked his life to protect us,” asked Captain Amarinder, warning the NDA and its allies against the dangerous consequences of such acts. The NDA and its allies like the SAD are striking at the roots of India’s diversity, and hence the foundation on which it rests, said the Chief Minister, making it clear that neither he nor his party, would allow such an assault on India’s character and Constitution.

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