Sukhbir flays AAP for equating manifesto with Sikh holy book

Punjab Deputy Chief Minister and SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal today flayed AAP for allegedly committing sacrilege by insulting and disrespecting Guru Granth Sahib by equating it with a "frivolous manifesto" released by the party in Amritsar yesterday.
In a statement issued here, he said Aam Aadmi Party and its spokesman Ashish Khetan, who also heads the Delhi Dialogue Commission of the party, had equated a document released yesterday with the holy book of Sikhs in the presence of AAP convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and the entire top Punjab leadership of the party.
"This is an act of blasphemy which has hurt the sentiments of the Sikh community worldwide and we condemn it as such," said the Shiromani Akali Dal chief.

He said it was understood that AAP leaders in Punjab did not have any conscience and had become "yes men" of Kejriwal and his team of "outsiders" and that was why they had not raised their voice against the alleged sacrilegious act.
"But, for me as a Sikh, it is galling to learn how this new party and its mentally sick leaders have attacked Sikhism. They have, through their actions, shown that they do not respect Sikhism and its tenets," he added.
Asking Kejriwal to take immediate action against his underling, the SAD chief said no apology from Khetan would be good enough to assuage the hurt feelings of the Sikh Sangat.

"However, immediate dismissal of Khetan from all party posts and expulsion from AAP will send a signal that you are not party to this heinous act. But, if you do not act immediately against your arrogant and mischievous underling, it will be presumed that this utterance was part of a planned AAP agenda authored by you," the statement read.

Sukhbir also asked Kejriwal why had he become party to this shameful act and had not condemned it till now.
"You are known to shed crocodile tears on all issues concerning Sikhs and Punjabis and have lied, duped and betrayed them on various occasions. The very fact that you are quiet on this issue is proof that you have utter disregard for the sentiments of the Sikh community and are ready to ride roughshod over them," he said.

Stating that he bowed his head to Guru Granth Sahib everyday and took blessings from it as devout Sikhs did worldwide, Badal said nothing could be equated to the holy book.
"But apparently, AAP and Arvind Kejriwal do not understand this and are bent on attacking Sikhism and Sikhs with their wanton irresponsible acts," he added.