Peace and communal harmony must be ensured: Harsimrat

Condemning the desecration of holy Guru Granth Sahib at various places in the state, Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal today appealed to Sikhs to remain vigilant and maintain peace and communal harmony in Punjab.
Union Minister for Food Processing Industry and SAD MP assured the people that she was one with them in their hour of grief and joined them in demanding the harshest possible punishment for those who desecrated the holy book.
Pointing out to the repetitive nature of the desecrations, she said "it was clear that some external agencies were trying to destabilise the Punjab government".
She urged the people to be vigilant against such forces besides warning them to beware of rumour mongers and false information being spread by mischievous elements.

She urged the people to have trust in the state government which was set to apprehend the accused.
She also urged for organising Akhand Paths (recitation of hymns) to express grief over the incidents of desecration.

Speaking about herself, she said "being a humble and devout Sikh, my sentiments have been deeply outraged by recent desecrations of Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji and subsequent happenings have left me emotionally shattered".
The Minister assured that those behind the incident would be dealt with severely as per the law.
"These sacrilegious acts are an unpardonable offence and no one associated with this ghastly crime will be spared at any cost," she said.

She also exhorted the people of Punjab to prevent incidents of sacrilege of religious places across the cities and towns by remaining vigilant to ensure that the conspiracy did not succeed.