Amarinder flays Sukhbir over his remarks on protests in US

Former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh today criticised Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal for terming people, who protested against the Akali Dal delegation in the US and Canada, as "anti-national".
"This is unbecoming of the president of Akali Dal, a party that claims to represent and watch Sikh interests, to damn an entire community as anti-national just because they are critical of you and your party", Singh said in a statement issued here.
Hundreds of Sikhs recently protested visit of Minister for NRI Affairs in the Punjab government, Tota Singh and his delegation to the US, who also allegedly threw stones and hurled a shoe at them in New York.

Sukhbir, however, had yesterday asserted that the delegation of Shiromani Akali Dal leaders have received historic response from Punjabi Diaspora in the US and Canada and a very few people opposing the delegation are basically "anti-national" and "anti-Punjab".
Capt Amarinder, instead suggested Sukhbir Badal and Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to "introspect" as to why there is so much "anger" and "outrage" against them and their party everywhere not only in the foreign countries, but back home in Punjab as well.
"They are our own people not anti-nationals as you are trying to damn them", Singh said, while asking Sukhbir, "why is it that only the Akalis having association with Badals are facing so many protests?"

The former Chief Minister pointed out, it is not only in US and Canada that the Akalis are facing such protests as they were facing similar protests in Punjab also.
"Do you mean everybody is anti-national just because they are showing you the mirror as you have failed them on all fronts and on all counts?" he alleged.
Capt Amarinder regretted that instead of addressing their "anger and alienation", Sukhbir had made a highly "irresponsible" statement that does no good to anyone and will create more bitterness.