Senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Wednesday joined the BJP in Delhi, and expressed his unhappiness with the Panthic organisations of the Sikh community for not thanking the Centre for the support it offered.
He had expressed similar reservations on November 8 during a telephonic call with this TOI reporter.
Sirsa was contacted to give his quotes about the ‘status of evacuation of 222 members of Afghan minorities including Sikhs and Hindus at the end of Government of India (GOI)’, in view of the tense situation under the Taliban rule in Afghanistan.
When questioned why the GOI is not clearing the file of evacuating Afghan minorities, Sirsa had on November 8, told this reporter, “They are not Afghan nationals and the government can take any stand. It could be because they (ruling leaders) might be thinking that they are supporting the community (Sikhs) but no gratitude was offered by the community or the Panthic leaders due to ongoing farmers’ protest. GOI had initially evacuated some Afghan Sikhs (from Afghanistan), at least the Sikhs (organisations) should have officially thanked the government. But nobody is willing to do so as all got involved in kisani masla (farmers’ issue) and everyone thought of ignoring (to thank the government).”
“As I presume, they (ruling leaders of BJP) must also be thinking that they do not get any credit for the efforts (done to support the community)," Sirsa had said.
When pressed that he has a strong lobby in the SAD as well as the BJP, and could have thanked the government at the level of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC), Sirsa said: “They (BJP) do not want to listen to us anymore”.
When asked if he can ask the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) or SAD leadership to thank the government, Sirsa replied, “They do not listen to SGPC or Akali leadership either and they are not ready to listen”.
About the reason behind such neglect to Sikh bodies from the BJP, Sirsa said: “They (BJP) take a stand that if you (SAD) have developed differences that they will not talk to BJP, then be that way. It is us (SAD) who developed differences and not the BJP.”
To a query about the actual issues which are creating differences, Sirsa replied, “Differences are that we do not talk with them (BJP leaders) on any issue irrespective of its nature. They (BJP leaders) say you abuse us on issues of farmers, no matter, but when they (some BJP leaders) went to gurdwara, they were made to run and abused and nobody condemned that. Mother of the prime minister was abused and nobody condemned it. They did not say this officially but conveyed otherwise.”
Reacting to the statement of the then President of SGPC about not inviting the Prime Minister to the celebration of 400th birth anniversary of Guru Teg Bahadur, Sirsa said, “Nobody in the world has the right to say that we will not invite XYZ person on the eve of Parkash Gurpurb (birth anniversary) of Guru Teg Bahadur Ji. President of our SGPC said that we will not invite Prime Minister on this eve.”
“If you take it otherwise, the Ram Mandir management (Shri Ram Janambhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust) had sent an invitation (to Akal Takht Jathedar), who did not attend the event. Had they (BJP leaders) issued any statement that they will not allow Akal Takht Jathedar to attend the event (of laying foundation stone) of Ram Mandir. We should remain silent and not insult others", said Sirsa.
(With inputs from agencies)