CHANDIGARH: Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday made scathing attacks on BJP, stating that the saffron party is trying to brand patriotic Punjabis as anti-nationals, and conspiring to destroy the state’s centuries-old social harmony for electoral gains.While leading the ‘Shukrana Yatra’ across the Malwa region, Mann warned that the same politics of fear and division unleashed by BJP in West Bengal was now being attempted in Punjab, where communal forces were trying to pit communities against each other to polarise society and capture power. He asserted that Punjabis, who made the greatest sacrifices for the country’s freedom and unity, would never allow such forces to succeed in Punjab.“The moment BJP formed the govt in West Bengal, an atmosphere of fear spread everywhere. First they pit two communities against each other, and then they stand with one side and intimidate the other to secure votes,” he added.Mann called upon Punjabis to unite against divisive forces inimical to the peace, amity and communal harmony of the state, asserting that communal politics would never be allowed to disturb Punjab’s centuries-old brotherhood.Coining the slogan Punjab belongs to Punjabis, Mann said, “Those trying to disturb communal harmony are enemies of Punjab. The BJP has gained power in Maharashtra, Haryana, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Bengal through divisive politics, but such conspiracies would never succeed in Punjab because people here celebrate every festival together.”On the third day of the yatra in Bathinda, Mann targeted RSS and BJP over nationalism, and said RSS did not hoist the Tricolour at its headquarters for 52 years, yet now they are distributing certificates of patriotism to others.Earlier, Mann paid obeisance at Takhat Damdama Sahib at Talwandi Sabo. He said some people are opposing the law tooth and nail because their political bosses are unhappy over it.
