Chandigarh, August 14: Aam Aadmi Party leadership in Punjab reaffirmed the necessity of maintaining peace across holy shrines following a reported breach attempt involving Shiromani Akali Dal President Sukhbir Singh Badal at Takht Sri Hazur Sahib. AAP Punjab Media Incharge Baltej Pannu declared that any form of physical confrontation within a Gurdwara Sahib undermines sacred traditions and deserves clear public disapproval, while observing that political figures must also acknowledge historical public sentiment.
The political commentary comes as state leaders review security protocols and public reactions following the event at the historical shrine.
Baltej Pannu maintained that the sanctity of Gurdwara Sahibs must be respected and no such incident of violence should take place at a religious place. He asserted, “While any attempt to attack a person must be condemned, the Akali Dal must also recognise the emotions and grievances that emerged from the events of 2015.”
The media incharge traced current public sentiment to previous administrative actions during protests over sacrilege incidents. He declared that former state governments had sought public mandates on religious grounds multiple times, making subsequent governance failures and forceful police actions particularly distressing to local communities.
Baltej Pannu stated that the pain over beadbi incidents, water cannons and firing on peaceful protesters, and the deaths of two Sikhs, still remains alive in the hearts of the sangat.
He declared that the Akali Dal leadership needs to understand the sentiments that continue to exist among the Sikh community over those historical developments. He affirmed that condemnation of violence must co-exist with a sincere understanding of deep-rooted public emotions.
