Ashwani hits out at SAD on Indira assassin anniversary issue

Congress leader Ashwani Kumar today accused the BJP-SAD government in Punjab of "treason" over SGPC's decision to commemorate the anniversary of the assassins of late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and former Army Chief Gen A S Vaidya.
"It is shocking to read that the SGPC has decided to commemorate the anniversary of the assassin of late Indira Gandhi and General Vaidya, a decorated general of the Indian Army. Such a decision by the SGPC and implicitly endorsed by the Akali Dal, is nothing less than an act of treason against the Indian State.
"This action has wounded the sensitivities of the nation as a whole. The Akali-led government in which BJP is a junior and supporting partner could be dismissed for condoning such acts against the Indian State and the Constitution," the Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab and a former Union minister said in a release.

He alleged that pushed to the wall by its acts of "misgovernance", the Akalis are seriously "threatening" the hard won peace in the state which must be collectively resisted by all those who are committed to the unity and integrity of India.
"The Akalis return to the Panthik Agenda is a sign of their desperation. The BJP must answer for its continuing support to the Akali Dal," the Congress leader said.
He said that instead of pursuing a divisive agenda with serious ramifications for the country and for peace in Punjab, the state government should focus on major challenges such as drug addiction, unemployment of the youth on a vast scale, mal-governance, environmental pollution and the plight of farmers.

"The Congress party in the state and at the Centre will resist with all its might a brazenly divisive and communal agenda of the state government," he said.
Kumar alleged that Punjab government has failed to provide adequate compensation to the farmers whose rabi crop has been destroyed while the trading community is heavily burdened under the weight of various taxes. He also attacked the government over aangwadi workers' agitation there.