Sukhbir Badal asks SGPC, SAD leaders not to run away, also asks for ideas to come over crisis

CHANDIGARH: While SAD president and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal himself is avoiding interaction with public and staying at his home in Badal due to aggressive protestors on roads, he has advised the members of Shiromani Gurdawara Parbhandak Committee and leaders of Shiromani Akali Dal(SAD) leaders not to run away at this juncture but face the people with bold face.More than dozen SGPC membes have so far resigned from their posts and senior SAD leaders and Jathedar (distict presidents) have gone under ground to escape the public wrath against them.Sukhbir Badal who holds the home portfolio and at the helm of party affairs has taken the inititiave to boost morale of party workers. He is being targeted by radical Sikh organisations for using the religious bodies like SGPC and Akal Takht to promote his political interests.Sukhbir Badal had called members of SGPC, select SAD leaders and MLA’s two Lok Sabha constituencies of Bathind and Faridkot to his residence yesterday. He again called SAD and SGPC members from six other districts today. He had long parley with SGPC members from five districts. He told SAD and SGPC memebrs to be brave and go into the public and clear misconceptions. Many SGPC members had expressed their unhappiness over the happening including granting pardon to Dera Chief, incidents of sacrilege and suspension of Punj Payaras.A senior leader said that it was after many years that Sukhbir Badal had asked for suggestions from members to counter the current crisis, otherwise he was in the habit of issuing orders and nobdy can dare to disobey him. He seldom call meetings of political affairs committee, working committee and general house. He has his own list of advisors.There are reports from various parts of the state that SAD leaders and SGPC members were attacked and forced to run away from public functions in the aftermath of sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib and failure of Punjab Government to identify the culprits and take action againsat them.