Khalistan leader’s anniversary sparks row

The celebration of the birth anniversary of militant leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale on February 12 has assumed political colours in Punjab as both the BJP and Congress has attacked AAP of pursuing “fanatic agenda”, by asking people to celebrate the birth anniversary, even as AAP has denied the allegation and described the charge as dirty politics at play. The BJP state president Kamal Sharma has launched a scathing attack on the AAP, saying that the posters circulated by the AAP, exhorting people of the state to mark the birth anniversary of Khalistan ideologue Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, tantamount to anti-national activity.

Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Capt Amarinder Singh said, “On the one hand, they (AAP) are invoking people for ‘revolution’, and on the other, they are asking people to celebrate Bhindranwale’s birth anniversary. There is a clear link between the two,” Mr Amarinder said, adding that such tactics were a threat to the country’s sovereignty and especially “dangerous for Punjab”. Denying all allegations, AAP’s Punjab observer Sanjay Singh said it was “ dirty politics at play”.