Will Congress MPs' Call for Action Protect the Golden Temple?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Congress MPs demand urgent intervention from the Central government regarding threats to the Golden Temple.
- Protest highlights the seriousness of threats against religious sites.
- Political reactions indicate a complex landscape regarding alliances.
- Calls for action underscore the need for security in places of worship.
- Historical context emphasizes the importance of political alliances in Punjab.
New Delhi, July 24 (NationPress) In a call for urgent action, Congress Members of Parliament from Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh gathered on Thursday at the Parliament House complex, urging the Central government to address the threats directed at the Golden Temple in Amritsar.
The protest saw participation from prominent leaders like Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, Charanjit Singh Channi, Amar Singh, Sukhjinder Randhawa, Dharamvir Gandhi, Manish Tewari, Kumari Selja, Sher Singh Ghubaya, and Gurjeet Singh Aujla.
During a media briefing, Punjab Congress president and Ludhiana MP Warring highlighted that continuous threats against the Golden Temple have raised serious concerns.
Warring asserted that although the state government claimed to have apprehended one suspect, reports indicated that this individual was not involved in the threat incidents.
He emphasized the need for the Union government and the Union Home Ministry to take these threats seriously, identify the perpetrators, and ensure they face justice, underscoring the gravity and sensitivity surrounding the matter.
In response to a query about Punjab BJP President Sunil Jakhar's suggestion for a BJP-Akali Dal alliance, Warring noted that the BJP's state working president, Ashwani Sharma, has already dismissed the idea of collaboration.
Warring confidently stated that any alliance between the BJP and the Akali Dal would have no impact on the Congress, reminding that the Congress has triumphed over them multiple times in past coalitions. He remarked, “They are free to collaborate even with the Aam Aadmi Party.”
Jakhar had previously mentioned in an interview that the BJP-SAD alliance historically served the broader needs of Punjab.
He pointed to the year 1996, noting that the BJP, as a national party, accepted a subordinate role to the Akali Dal for the greater good of Punjab, which was recovering from the horrific era of terrorism.
It's worth mentioning that the Shiromani Akali Dal, now under the leadership of Sukhbir Badal, severed ties with the BJP in 2020 when they exited the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) over contentious farm laws, which have since been repealed.