Sangrur bypoll winner Simranjit Mann stokes row; dedicates win to Bhindranwale's teachings

In a shocking development, SAD (Amritsar) chief Simranjit Singh Mann attributed his victory in the Sangrur bypoll to the teachings of terrorist Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. Propagating the creation of a Sikhism-based theocratic nation of Khalistan, Bhindranwale and his supporters occupied the Akal Takht complex in Amritsar and gave refuge to all hues of criminal elements. This compelled the Centre to launch Operation Blue Star which succeeded in rescuing the religious place from the clutches of the terrorists in June 1984. 

Making ludicrous claims while speaking to the media on Sunday, Simranjit Mann said, "It is a win of the party workers, the teachings of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and the peaceful struggle. The Sikh community is upset with the martyrdom of Deep Singh Sidhu and Sidhu Moosewala. The Indian government cannot do to Sikhs what they are doing to Muslims, the way in which their localities are being questioned and atrocities are being committed in Kashmir. The Indian Army kills Kashmiris and no inquiry is conducted. The government kills tribals in Jharkhand, Bihar and Chhattisgarh by branding them as Maoists."

Congress slams Simranjit Mann's comments

The bypoll to the Sangrur was necessitated by the resignation of Bhagwant Mann from this Lok Sabha seat. Mann who took over as the CM following AAP's stupendous victory in the Assembly polls won the election from Dhuri. While AAP reposed its faith in Gurmail Singh, he lost to Simranjit Mann by 5822 votes. This was perceived as an embarrassment for the Arvind Kejriwal-led party as the Punjab CM had won this seat twice. Incidentally, the SAD (Amritsar) supremo who is an ex-IPS officer won from Sangrur in 1999 too. 

Expressing alarm at Simranjit Mann's comments, Congress general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala averred, "Punjab can’t be pushed back in the blind alley of violence and terrorism. If what is reported is true, Democracy lost today in Sangrur". Similarly, Congress Lok Sabha MP Ravneet Singh Bittu opined, "Mann's ideology has proven toxic for Punjab and our Nation in the past. His Khalistani agenda is a threat to the peace & integrity of Punjab and country. We as citizens must ensure that this peace and integrity always remains intact".