Rahul fomenting trouble in Punjab, says Sukhbir

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president and Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab Sukhbir Singh Badal on Saturday accused Congress vice- president Rahul Gandhi of fomenting trouble in Punjab and encouraging secessionist elements against the wishes of patriotic Sikhs.

A SAD delegation told President Pranab Mukherjee that Congress is trying to destabilise peace and communal harmony in Punjab by supporting extremist elements. Badal said Pakistan’s ISI is looking to damage Punjab and through it, other parts of the country.

“I am shocked that a leader like Rahul Gandhi has also played into the hands of extremist forces hell bent on destroying Punjab and India. The Congress should stop aligning with extremist organizations just for political gains”, the SAD president said. In a memorandum to Mukherjee, handed during the SAD delegation’s meeting, the party charged that Rahul had also played a very dangerous role during his visit to Punjab and his party had teamed up with separatist organisations to organise the November 10 "sarbat khalsa" gathering in Tarn Taran.

Badal explained “Congress conspiracy” to destabilise peace in Punjab by providing overt and covert support to the November 10 event.

He alleged that the groups demanding Khalistan held a rally in Amritsar recently and some Congress leaders shared the stage with them. “Why does Rahul Gandhi want to bring back those dark days of the 80s in Punjab?” he asked. “All this happened at the behest of Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi.”

Rahul’s recent visit to Punjab led to the chain of events which witnessed the Congress playing dangerous games in the sensitive border state.

“We are bringing this to the notice of Home Minister Rajnath Singh,” he said addressing newspersons on Saturday.

Congress MP Rajiv Shukla reacted to the SAD leader saying Congress has always been a nationalist party.