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Amarinder's remarks annoy Akalis

Staff Correspondent

CM had dared Akali leader Dhindsa "to come clean on his alleged links with Dawood aide"

CHANDIGARH: Remarks by Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh daring former Union Minister and Akali Dal secretary-general Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa "to come clean on his alleged links with a close aide of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim" have created a flutter in the State, with the Opposition taking umbrage and launching a counter-offensive.

Capt. Singh on Thursday was responding to questions from reporters after presiding over a function organised to observe the 72nd anniversary of the martyrdom of the doyen of "Praja Mandal Movement", Sardar Sewa Singh Thikriwala, in Sangrur district. On the occasion, he honoured Amarjit Singh, maternal grandson of Sardar Thikriwala. Earlier the Panchayat of Thikriwala village honoured Capt. Singh with the title of "Waris-e-Punjab".

Capt. Singh said that instead of seeking an apology from him for the unfortunate incident involving the death of Sardar Thikriwala during the rule of the Chief Minister's grandfather Maharaja Bhupinder Singh, Mr. Dhindsa must explain to the people why he got his son married in the family of a close confidant of Dawood Ibrahim. He also sought an explanation from the Akali leader "about wealth and real estate worth crores the latter had accumulated".

Clarifying his position, Capt. Singh said he did not owe any explanation to Mr. Dhindsa as the fateful incident mentioned by him took place in 1938 four years before his birth.

Reacting sharply to the Chief Minister's outburst, Akali Dal general secretary Sukhbir Singh Badal on Friday said the former had debased the dignity of his office by resorting to "shockingly uncultured and graceless" language against Mr Dhindsa.

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