Didn’t go to Darbar Sahib for ‘siropa’, says Badal

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal during his Sangat Darshan in Lambi on Saturday. Tribune photo

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Lambi (Muktsar), June 4

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today tried to downplay the controversy regarding the denial of a “siropa” (robe of honour) to him at the Golden Temple yesterday.

“I go to Darbar Sahib to pay obeisance, not to get a ‘siropa’,” said Badal on the sidelines of his Sangat Darshan at Vanwala village here.

On the transfer of two SGPC men, the CM said: “I am not aware of it. Even if someone has been transferred, the order should be cancelled. I have nothing to benefit from it. I have got a big ‘siropa’ (public mandate) of the whole of Punjab.”

Flays R’sthan for abolishing Punjabi teachers’ posts

Badal said he would take up the issue of “hostile attitude” of the Rajasthan government towards the Punjabi language with Chief Minister Vasundhra Raje and seek its early resolution.

“It is unfortunate that the Rajasthan government has abolished the posts of Punjabi teacher in government schools of Punjabi-dominated areas. The state is not even providing Punjabi textbooks to the SC students. It is a serious issue and grave injustice with Punjabis settled in Rajasthan,” he said.

SAD men come to blows

Two warring factions of the Akali Dal created a scene before the Chief Minister. The factions led by Mehna village sarpanch Punnu Ram and former sarpanch Buta Singh first entered into a verbal duel and then came to blows over some road widening work. Badal appealed to both the factions to remain silent, saying, "You people don't even know how to get benefit from the government." The CM left the venue after that.

Courtesy: The Tribune