Chandigarh, Jan 20 The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Friday said the manner in which Punjab's Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa, of the Congress, insulted former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh by referring to him as "farzi" Prime Minister had hurt the sentiments of the Sikh community as well as Punjabis at large.
In a statement here, SAD senior leader Prem Singh Chandumajra said Sikhs in Punjab had taken pride at the elevation of Manmohan Singh to the office of the Prime Minister.
"Dr Manmohan Singh also conducted himself with immense dignity earning him recognition the world over. He cannot be termed 'farzi' by any stretch of imagination but if he is being referred to as that it indicates that sycophants like Partap Bajwa can go to any extent to please their masters."
Asserting that Bajwa had acted in a shameful manner by insulting the persona of Manmohan Singh, the SAD leader demanded the Leader of Opposition apologise for this act immediately and withdraw his statement.
Chandumajra also asked Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge to take action against Bajwa, saying: "If the yardstick followed by Bajwa is to be taken into consideration then you are also a 'farzi' leader as per the Punjab Congress leader".
He said the silence of Rahul Gandhi as well as the Congress over Bajwa's statement indicated that they also held Manmohan Singh in contempt. "Rahulas actions during the erstwhile UPA regime when he publicly belittled Manmohan Singh's decisions, also prove this point. One can deduce that this is why the Congress is a finished force now. The Gandhi family treated a Sikh Prime Minister as 'farzi' and now the people are calling the family 'farzi'," he added.
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