Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal flays 'forced' religious conversions

FATEHGARH SAHIB: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today flayed the "forced" religious conversions taking place in a few parts of the country, saying these were against the tenets of Sikhism.

Describing the conversions as "unfortunate", Badal said, "The Sikhs have never accepted the forceful religious conversions. The entire Sikh history is replete with several episodes where our great Gurus and valiant Sikh warriors never bowed to the pressure exerted by the mighty rulers."

He further said Sikh Gurus had opposed forceful conversions tooth and nail and Guru Teg Bahadur had even preferred to sacrifice his life than succumbing to "the Mughal oppression for forcible conversions of Hindus into Muslim".

He was speaking here at the state level martyrdom function of the 'Chotte Sahibzadas' Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh and their mother Mata Gujri.

On the issue drugs, Badal expressed anguish over the alleged failures of successive Union governments to check the free flow of drugs and narcotics from across the international border.

Citing an example, he said 85 per cent of heroin was being smuggled from Afghanistan to Punjab via Pakistan, which was further supplied in different parts of world.

"How can the state government be held responsible for drug trafficking from international border in Punjab due to sheer complacency at the part of Centre," he said.

The CM also said that in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, narcotics like opium, poppy husk and others were allegedly sold freely in the open market.

Welcoming the initiative of BJP President Amit Shah who will launch a campaign against drugs in the state next month, Badal said it should be far more widened up to Kanyakumari to make India a drug free nation.

Badal said that he would love to participate in the campaign provided he was extended an invitation from BJP.