Punjab: Sikh, Dalit leaders warn against "scheming forces"

The Sikh and Dalit leaders of Punjab today asked the people to be wary of "forces" scheming to trigger communal and casteist riots in the state, particularly the Doaba region, having the highest Dalit population.
Led by Sukhdev Singh of Akal Students Federation (ASF) and Jarnail Nangal, a former state General Secretary of Bahujan Samaj Party(BSP), the leaders alleged that the evil forces wanted to pit Sikhs against Dalits in Doaba region in order to divert the public attention from the desecration of holy Guru Granth Sahib.
The leaders urged people of both the communities to contact and verify from their respective leaders reports of any unfortunate incident and should not believe in rumours.

They called upon managing committees of all religious places, especially in villages, to guard the shrines in the same way as they guard their own homes.
"Now repeated incidents of desecration of Guru Granth Sahib are also a part of Badals (Chief Minister Parkash Singh and his deputy Sukhbir Singh) game plan to whip up religious frenzy in state for grinding their political axe," Nangal said.
Punjab Ambedkar Sena Moolnivasi President Harbhajan Suman, block samiti member Sukhwinder Shergill, ASF activist Manjeet Singh Happy were present among others.