Gurlal hits back at Valtoha, says he ‘earned’ Maharaja Ranjit Singh award

Patiala: A war of words erupted between Gurlal Singh Ghanaur, the AAP MLA from Ghanaur and circle kabaddi player, and the former Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) legislator Virsa Singh Valtoha on Tuesday over the Punjab govt's decision to confer the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Award on the former.The exchange followed a sports felicitation ceremony organised by the state govt on Sunday, where chief minister Bhagwant Mann conferred the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Award on 87 sportspersons, including Gurlal Singh Ghanaur. He also distributed prize money worth Rs 32.05 crore among 1,070 medal-winning athletes from different disciplines.The controversy began after Valtoha, a former legislator from Khemkaran, posted a strongly worded message on Facebook, criticising the decision to honour Gurlal Singh Ghanaur.In the post, Valtoha invoked the legacy of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, recalling a popular anecdote associated with the Sikh ruler's administration in which even a dog adorned with a gold ornament could move safely through the city without fear of theft.Drawing a contrast with the present situation, Valtoha alleged that the govt was honouring "a trolley thief" with Punjab's highest sporting honour. The remarks were seen as a direct personal attack on the AAP MLA Gurlal Singh and triggered reactions across political and social circles.In a strongly worded response on Facebook that went viral, Gurlal Singh Ghanaur invoked the legacy of Maharaja Ranjit Singh to highlight what he described as the dignity of the Sikh empire in comparison to controversies witnessed during the SAD's tenure in Punjab. The post was widely interpreted as targeting the former Akali MLA."In the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, there was no sacrilege of Sri Guru Granth Sahib," Gurlal wrote, referring to incidents associated with the previous SAD govt. He also mentioned the Behbal Kalan firing incident and allegations of police action against Sikh devotees engaged in religious congregations.Gurlal stated that the award he received was earned "through achievements in kabaddi arenas" and not "through exploiting the name of religion".The AAP MLA also accused previous govts of neglecting sportspersons, particularly kabaddi players, by allegedly withholding their pending prize money and recognition for years.He also criticised Akali leaders for allegedly seeking political support from the head of Dera Sacha Sauda, whom he termed a "rapist".When contacted, Valtoha said MLA Gurlal must first answer accusations from Punjab's farmers who labelled him a "trolley thief". He questioned whether such an individual had any right to receive an award named after Maharaja Ranjit Singh.Valtoha also challenged the narrative surrounding sacrilege incidents in Punjab, pointing out that it was a long-standing historical pain that predated 2015, highlighting a 1981 incident in Chando Kalan where police allegedly burnt holy scriptures.He sharply criticised the current AAP govt for failing to secure convictions despite promising justice within 24 hours, noting that any breakthroughs and sentences against Dera followers actually took place under the Akali Dal administration.Valtoha further accused the AAP govt of double standards and protecting its own, alleging that the Mann administration gave "no objection" affidavits to transfer sacrilege cases out of Punjab, failed to arrest key conspirators like Honeypreet, and actively tried to use administrative influence to withdraw a case related to the desecration of the Quran against its Delhi MLA, before the court ultimately convicted him.MSID:: 131332212 413 |