Sukhbir, Warring clash over sacrilege, justice delay

Baba Bakala (Rayya): The politics over the 2015 sacrilege cases sharpened on Thursday, with Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal and Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring taking on each other over the issue of delayed justice.Addressing a rally in Baba Bakala as part of SAD's ‘Punjab Bachao Yatra', Sukhbir accused the Congress of politicising sacrilege while failing to bring those responsible to book during its tenure from 2017 to 2022. He questioned Warring over why the Congress govt could not deliver justice despite being in power for five years.Sukhbir also referred to the 2015 Bargari sacrilege incidents, alleging that the Congress used the issue politically while obstructing efforts to probe the cases. He further claimed that sacrilege incidents began surfacing in Punjab after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) entered the state in 2014.His remarks came the same day Warring raised the issue in Parliament, saying justice in the sacrilege cases had been delayed for 11 years. Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Warring said Sikhs had been waiting for justice since 2015 and alleged that no action had been taken despite the issue remaining in the public domain for years.Warring also referred to the police firing at Behbal Kalan, in which two protesters were killed while demanding justice after the sacrilege incidents. He said the matter remained unresolved even after more than a decade.Later, outside Parliament, Warring claimed his microphone was switched off when he mentioned Sukhbir's name, saying he had only referred to facts already on record.Sukhbir also attacked chief minister Bhagwant Mann, accusing him of discouraging youth from taking up animal husbandry ventures. He said the SAD, if voted to power, would provide 75% subsidy for livestock ventures, ensure MSP for milk, and establish a World Skill University with centres in every district.He also promised phased upgradation of village infrastructure and ownership rights in Lal Dora areas.