Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Monday raised strong objections over the decision of Government of India to cancel the Visit of Sikh pilgrims to Pakistan on the occasion of parkash purab of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji. The Punjab Chief Minister expressed that It’s hard to understand whether BJP’s policy is against Pakistan or against its own people adding that it reflects hostile attitude of Modi government towards Punjab. He said that if a Pakistani actress stars in a Punjabi artist’s film, the film is banned by the centre and Punjabis are labelled as traitors. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that it is ultimately The Punjabi artist and our film industry which bears the loss due to the step motherly treatment of the centre. The Chief Minister said that though the film was shot much before the unfortunate incident of Pahalgam terrorist attack, banning this movie on this pretext was an injustice. “However, the cricket match between India and Pakistan is allowed just because the son of a big sahib desired so. The BJP led troll army termed Punjabi actors and producers as traitors whereas now everyone is tight lipped when this match was held in the country,” he said.
Punjab CM Bhagwant Singh Mann slams Modi government for politicizing religious pilgrimage
The Chief Minister pointed out that when the Cricket Board is in the hands of Amit Shah’s son, holding a match with Pakistan suddenly becomes a compulsion for the Indian government. “Everyone knows what Pakistan does with this money, owing to its anti-India stance, which it earns from such matches adding that in other words, it is the benefit of Pakistan. If India can play a cricket match with Pakistan, then why can’t pilgrims visit Sri Kartarpur Sahib and Sri Nankana Sahib to pay obeisance?” he questioned.
The Chief Minister further said that it is unfortunate that When disaster strikes Afghanistan, the BJP led national government rushes to send aid to them. However, he said that now when Punjab is facing devastating floods, the BJP-led central government didn’t even release the rightful funds owed to Punjab. “The BJP continuously holds a grudge against Punjab and its people adding that the centre government has not even released ₹1600 crore announced by the Prime Minister,” said CM Bhagwant Singh Mann.
Questions double standards in allowing India-Pakistan cricket
The Chief Minister said that until yesterday, Punjab BJP leaders were raising baseless questions on the state government adding he dared Jakhar and Bittu to explain that why the central government is not allowing the jathas to visit Sri Kartarpur Sahib whereas on the other hand cricket match was allowed. “Kartarpur Sahib is the holy site where Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji spent the final years of his life, adding that Sri Nankana Sahib is the holy place where the Guru sahib was born. For us, these issues are not related to politics or business, but these are issues concerning our emotions as these places are admired by Punjabis as greatest centers of faith and devotion,” he said.
The Chief Minister said that Punjabis want to have the darshan of their Guru at these places adding that stopping devotees from visiting these sacred sites is not just an injustice, but also deeply hurts the religious sentiments of millions of Sikhs. “Is Amit Shah’s son more important to the government than millions of Sikh sangat? I appeal to the Prime Minister that politics can wait, cricket can wait, but devotion cannot wait,” said CM Bhagwant Singh Mann.
While denying access to Sikh holy sites like Kartarpur Sahib and Nankana Sahib
The Chief Minister said that both east and west Punjab share a strong bond of brotherhood and culture but these leaders try to weaken it by such conspiracies. “Today Modi is the Prime Minister of the country just because Punjabis had made supreme sacrifices in the national freedom struggle to remove clutches of foreign imperialism. Selective approval and bans for the vested interests of Modi and company will not be tolerated as Punjab plays a pivotal role in making the country self-reliant in food production,” he said.
The Chief Minister said that packages are given to the state as per the schedule of the elections due to which Assam, Bihar and other states are tidal getting huge packages for development whereas Punjab has been deliberately left behind for flood relief.