MUKTSAR: Apart from being arch political rivals, the Congress and SAD locked horns over holding of conference on the occasion of Maghi on Monday. While the Akali Dal justified the holding of the conference, the Congress termed it as a violation of the edict issued by the Akal Takht against holding of conferences on days of martyrdom in Sikh history.Akali Dal general secretary Balwinder Singh Bhundar while addressing the conference said that the Akal Takht had only debarred holding of conferences at Fatehgarh Sahib and Chamkaur Sahib, where the four Sahibzadas had been martyred. “The last week of December is full of grief because of the martyrdom of Sahibzadas and we accepted the appeal of the Akal Takht of not holding conferences on those occasions. But at Muktsar the Sikhs had won the battle by making supreme sacrifices and it was a matter of pride for us. So, why should we not hold conference and remember those sacrifices? If we do not remember those valiant soldiers of the Guru then the younger generations may not be apprised of the glorious past.”On the other hand, Punjab ministers Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa and Sukhbinder Singh Sukh Sarkaria paid obeisance at the gurdwara at Muktsar. Later, they told mediapersons that the Congress government while accepting the edict of the Akal Takht had decided not to hold a conference on the occasion. “We are fully devoted to the Akal Takht and have not held any conference for the last two years even though we fully recognise the martyrdom of Sikhs. But those who have no faith in the Akal Takht are still holding conferences,” they added.

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