New Delhi: Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi said on Monday that such an attempt was made at the Kali Mata temple in Patiala, following which another alleged incident of sacrilege has come to the fore in the state of Punjab.
Patiala SP City Harpal Singh said that the police will investigate the incident and take action against the accused.
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“Today around 2.30 pm, a man reached Shri Kali Mata Mandir in Patiala and climbed the threshold where Shri Kali Mata ji’s idol was installed. Thereafter, he was apprehended and handed over to police”: Channi was quoted as saying by Punjab CM Charanjit Singh news agency ANI.
He insisted that he would not allow vested interests trying to destabilize the social harmony of Punjab to succeed in their malicious intentions.
CM Channi said, ‘Some vested interests are constantly trying to destabilize the social harmony of Punjab in view of the upcoming elections, but I will not allow them to succeed in their malicious intentions.
Some vested interests are constantly trying to destabilize the social harmony of Punjab in view of the upcoming elections, but I will not allow them to succeed in their malicious designs: Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi
— ANI (@ANI) 24 January 2022
Talking about the matter, Patiala SP City Harpal Singh said: “We will confirm the incident of alleged sacrilege, we will take action against the accused”, reported ANI.
Sukhbir Badal, Arvind Kejriwal Condemn Alleged Sacrilege Incident
Sharing a purported CCTV footage of the incident, Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal wrote: “Strongly condemn the sacrilege at the Kali Mata Temple in Patiala. We have seen communal hatred between Hindus and Sikhs by forces from outside Punjab. Feared and warned against conspiracy to spread. Worst fear is coming true. Let us all stand united against them to maintain peace and communal harmony.”
Delhi CM and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal also condemned the incident, alleging conspiracy: “Conspiracies are going on to vitiate the atmosphere in Punjab. The sacrilege attempt at Shri Kali Mata Temple in Patiala is condemnable. The accused should be punished. Strictest punishment should be given. A few days ago there was an attempt to sabotage Harmandir Sahib. Those who are behind this incident should be exposed and given severe punishment.”
Congress party’s Punjab affairs in-charge Harish Choudhary, echoing CM Channi’s views, wrote: “I strongly condemn the sacrilege attempt at Shri Kali Mata Mandir Patiala. The accused has been nabbed by the police. Some vested interests continue to try. They are destabilizing Punjab for political gains.
Alleged unholy speech in Golden Temple
In Punjab, sacrilege cases are one of the most prominent issues being addressed by political leaders across party lines in the electoral state.
Last year, on December 18, an alleged sabotage attempt at the Golden Temple in Amritsar shook the state. After the incident, the agitated devotees thrashed the accused to death.
Later on December 19, an unidentified person was accused of insulting ‘Nishan Sahib’ at village Gurudwara in Nizampur, Kapurthala. He too was allegedly thrashed to death by the locals.
In the second incident, however, the Punjab Police chief dismissed the sacrilege claim. The then Director General of Police, Punjab, Siddharth Chattopadhyay was quoted by ANI as saying, “There was no sacrilege in Kapurthala. The main accused has been arrested. So far, it looks like the man had gone inside with the intention of stealing.” ,
Meanwhile, more details about the fresh case are awaited.
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