SAD slams Amarinder Singh for 'malicious allegations against Badal'

Chandigarh, May 25: The ruling SAD on Tuesday hit out at Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh for leveling "baseless and malicious allegations" against Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in the aftermath of the recent attack on Sikh preacher Ranjit Singh Dhadrianwale.

The state Congress chief has accused Badal of pitting Sikh religious leaders against each other as part of his agenda of "controlled destabilisation" in the state.

"Amarinder has no right to question the integrity and sincerity of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal who has devoted his entire life to serve Punjab and made great sacrifices for the state suffering the hardships of imprisonment," SAD spokesperson and education minister Daljit Singh Cheema said.

In the case of attack on Dhadrianwale, the state government is proceeding as per the provisions of law and is committed to maintaining law and order, he said.

Unidentified assailants had on May 17 opened fire at the cavalcade of Dhadrianwale in which he had a narrow escape but his aide Bhupinder Singh Khalsa of Khasi Kalan died.

"Instead of politicising the issue, Amarinder and his party's 'B' team Aam Aadmi Party should come forward and cooperate in maintaining peaceful atmosphere in Punjab," he said.

"The state Congress chief would do very well to remember his own betrayals to Punjab instead of casting aspersions on the integrity of Badal," the SAD leader said.

PTI