CM questions Modi, Badals over absence from Jallianwala event
Tuesday, 16/04/2019
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CHANDIGARH: Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh on Monday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of discrimination against the Congress government in Punjab in matters of religious importance.
Upping the ante against Modi, who had on Sunday chosen to target him in a speech at Kathua, Amarinder asked why the PM did not criticise Akali leaders, including Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal, for not attending an event of the central government to mark the centenary of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.
Neither Parkash Singh Badal, Sukhbir nor Harsimrat, who happenstobeaministerinModi’scabinet, deemed it fit to pay homage to the martyrs at Jallianwala Bagh, the CM said. Yet Modi, who himself chose to keep away from this occasion of national importance, criticised him even though he had beenpartofaseriesofeventsatthe Jallianwala Bagh national memorial over two days, said the CM, lambasting the PM for the politically motivated attack.
Interpreting Modi’s actions and words as part of his government’s persistent discrimination against the Congress government in Punjab, Amarinder said by holding a parallel event to mark the Jallianwala Bagh centenary instead of supporting the state government’s commemorative programmes, the PM had exposed his true intent.
