Badal appeals to people to guard religious places

Against the backdrop of Sikh protests in several parts of Punjab after alleged incidents of sacrilege, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today appealed to people to remain vigilant and guard religious institutions to thwart any attempt by "inimical forces" to disturb peace in the state.
The appeal came after five-time CM expressed his deep pain and anguish over the alleged incidents of desecration of holy book in the state, at Akal Takht -the highest temporal seat of Sikh religion yesterday in Amritsar.
"I appeal to all Punjabis to be vigilant against those who try to disturb peace in the state by indulging in the heinous act of sacrilege of holy book and guard religious institutions in the state for 24 hours," Badal said in an appeal which appeared in newspapers today.

Expressing pain at the alleged incidents of sacrilege of Sikhs holy book 'Guru Granth Sahib', Badal said that such heinous act had deeply wounded the psyche of every member of the peace loving community.
He said the sacrilege incidents taking place in Faridkot (Bargari village), Tarn Taran (Bath village) and Ferozepur (Nazushah Mishri village) were part of a "deep conspiracy".
"The proof of such heinous act is that these incidents occurred at one time and in a similar fashion," Badal said.

He said under a deep conspiracy, the "divisive forces" were hell bent upon disturbing the hard-earned peace in the state.

Punjab CM said that the state government was committed to thwart any attempt by "inimical forces" which are trying to pose danger to peace and prosperity of the state by indulging in "terrible" act of sacrilege of holy book.
The state government is also committed to expose these forces and give exemplary punishment to those guilty of this unforgivable act, he noted.
"I assure Punjabis that anybody who indulges in the heinous act will not be spared and strict action will be taken against him as per law so nobody could dare repeating such act in future," Badal said.
"Peace and brotherhood will be maintained at all cost in the state and nobody will be allowed to violate law," he further said.

Protests by angry Sikh activists continue in several parts of Punjab against the sacrilege of holy book.
Meanwhile, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) President Avtar Singh Makkar also appealed to Sikhs to be watchful and guard Gurdwaras in the state so as not to allow any anti-social elements to carry out desecration of holy book.