Amarinder Singh criticizes Akali Dal over SGPC election row

Amritsar, Sep 5 (ANI): Lashing out at the Akali Dal over the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) election row, former Punjab Chief Minister, Captain Amarinder Singh said non-baptised Sikhs should be allowed to cast their votes.

"Non-baptised Sikhs should have the privilege of voting in the elections as they follow the religion with sincerity and participate in religious festivals exactly like baptized Sikhs," he told reporters.

"There is a large group of Sikhs who have cut their hair, beard or do not wear a turban. However, they do follow all the religious activities and participate in religious festivals. They are children of Sikh parents, they believe in the religion. How can the Akali Dal ignore them? This is totally wrong," he added.

Earlier, Sukhbir Singh Badal, President of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), had slammed the Central Government for altering statements over the withdrawal of a 2003 notification preventing Sehajdhari or non-baptised Sikhs from voting in the SGPC elections.

The withdrawal of the notification is being seen by the Sikh protestors as interference in the procedures of their religious body.

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had earlier met Union Home Minister P Chidambaram who reassured that the notification has not been withdrawn by the government.

Defending the Congress Party, Singh said that his successor, Parkash Singh Badal and his SAD party was using reigious tactics to garner votes ahead of upcoming state assembly elections in 2012.

"Badal is a liar and you (mediapersons) all know that. The truth of the matter is that Congress Party is not in election. We are not using this politically as opposed to what we are being accused of doing. We have no interest in doing this (supporting non-baptised Sikhs to cast a vote in Sikh religious body elections). The Congress Party doesn't have a hidden interest at all. We are not taking part in any religious (activity), not in Punjab, not anywhere in the country," he added.

"They (Akali Dal) want that only those people should remain in the voting list who vote for them in the elections. I mean if you see, they are resorting to use religious tactics of garnering vote," said. (ANI)