हिंदी
(Bikram S Majithia says move reflective of the anti-minority bias of AAP)
(Also criticizes Kejriwal for trying to indulge in a cover up and asks him to apologize to Christian comm)
(Asks Punjab AAP leaders why they have not condemned the church demolition till now)
Chandigarh,19 July 2021 The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today condemned the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi for demolishing a church in South Delhi, saying this action was reflective of the anti-minority bias of AAP.
In a statement here, former minister Bikram Singh Majithia said AAP had always pursued an anti-Punjabi agenda be it demanding a share in the State’s river waters for Delhi and Haryana, petitioning in the court to register criminal cases against farmers of Punjab for burning stubble and even trying to force closure of the thermal plants in Punjab. “Now we have witnessed AAP following the policy of majoritism in Delhi by ordering the demolition of the Little Flower church in South Delhi. This is proof that AAP also believes in subjugating the minority communities in a systematic manner. No one can tolerate this fascist approach which also impinges on the right to religious freedom enshrined in our constitution. Such kind of thinking is dangerous for the country”, Mr Majithia said adding the AAP government had earlier demolished a historic ‘Piao Sahib’ at Sisganj gurdwara in Delhi.
Demanding that the church be reconstructed at the same spot at the earliest, Mr Bikram Majithia said AAP was not only guilty of persecuting minorities but also involved in a sordid cover up exercise. He said Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal had gone to the extent of lying in Goa by claiming that the Delhi Development Board was responsible for demolishing the church. “The truth is that the church was demolished on the orders of the AAP government without assigning any notice”. He said the church was situated on gram sabha land owned by the Delhi government and the Delhi government demolished it in an arbitrary manner without even referring the matter to the Religious Committee of the Delhi government.
Asking AAP not to victimize the Christian community in this manner, Mr Majithia said “we will not allow this kind of highhandedness and assure our Christian brethren of our complete support in securing justice in the case”. Mr Majithia also asked the Delhi chief minister to take immediate measures to assuage the deep hurt caused to the Christian community of Delhi by tendering an unqualified apology to them. The Delhi CM should also assure the community that they will not be subject to any kind of persecution. He also assured the community that the SAD would do its utmost to ensure the church was rebuilt at the same site.
The SAD leader also asserted that it was unfortunate that the Punjab AAP unit had not condemned the incident and not asked the Delhi chief minister to make immediate amends. “This speaks volumes about the servantile attitude of Punjab AAP leaders who are ready to sell off the interests of Punjabis as well as the Christian community to safeguard their own petty fiefdoms. It also shows what kind of model AAP wants to implement in Punjab. “Punjabis believe in ‘sarbat da bhala’ and outrightly reject such intolerant policies”, Mr Majithia added.
Mr Majithia also highlighted how the erstwhile SAD government led by S Parkash Singh Badal had not only upheld religious freedom but had celebrated all religious days officially and had even given grants of hundreds of crores to beautify the places of worship of all communities. “The AAP government in comparison is persecuting the minority community in Delhi”, he added.
