In a show of strength, SAD today held 'Sadbhavna' rally here amid elaborate security arrangements in the wake of unrest over series of sacrilege incidents across the state.
The rally, seen as a litmus test for the party whose image took a severe beating after desecration incidents, saw massive participation of people.
The leaders from the ruling Siromani Akali Dal lashed out Congress and radical groups in the rally, which was held to promote peace and brotherhood in the state.
Addressing the gathering, Punjab Chief Minister and SAD patron Parkash Singh Badal said that today's gathering was not organized for any political motive or for election.
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"The rally was organised to promote peace, communal harmony and brotherhood as people got scared in the wake of recent incidents in the state," Badal said.
Referring to "dark days" which left Punjab "way behind other states", Badal said that the "two forces" have again come together with an intention of disturbing hard-earned peace and communal harmony.
"SAD (Amritsar) president Simranjit Singh Mann had stated that congregation was not for 'paschatap' (repentance)....All knew why it was held...These two forces - Congress representatives and some people (radical leaders) raised slogans over there with a motive of earning their livelihood and collect money. It has become their habit," Badal said.
"Both of them (these forces) are two sides of same coin," he said.
Asserting that SAD-BJP government will never let peace and harmony be disturbed at any cost, Badal appealed to Congress leaders Amarinder Singh and Partap Singh Bajwa to "not play with the peace and brotherhood".
Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal further said that people,
who attended 'Sarbat Khalsa', were disappointed with the kind of resolutions passed there on November 10.
"90 per cent of the people who went to attend 'Sarbat Khalsa' were upset," asserted Badal.
Targeting fringe radical Sikh groups, five-time CM Badal accused them of again trying to push back the state to dark days.
"I feel sad these people call them (radical leaders) Panthic Jathebandis. There is only one Panthic Jathebandi, which is SAD," he said.
He also took a jibe at SAD(A) President Simranjit Singh Mann, saying he lost both SGPC and Parliamentary elections.
Badal also attacked Amarinder and Bajwa for representing Congress party, which was allegedly responsible for the attack on Golden Temple and 1984 anti-sikh riots.
Lashing out at farmers' outfits, which held 'Rail Roko' agitation in October, Badal asked farmers not to fall into the trap of such organizations.
"They are befooling small farmers that they will get them Rs 40,000 per acre for cotton crop loss," he said.
Badal also cautioned media not to write stories which could fuel tension and disturb peace in the state.
Looking at the massive gathering at the rally, Sukhbir dared Congress leader Amarinder and Bajwa to hold a rally of such scale.
"SAD is your (people) party. It is a party of poor farmer, trader...It is 95-year-old party and nobody could ruin it. I want to tell Congress that 2017 election war has today commenced.
Sukhbir alleged that Congress party has joined hands with
those forces, which were responsible for "dark days" during militancy period in Punjab that stalled the state's progress and development.
"In 1980, because of dispute between Giani Zail Singh and Darbara Singh, forces were raised against SAD. And then these forces went out of their control which led to trouble in the state," he alleged.
"Today Congress is again trying to disturb Punjab's peace only to get votes," he claimed, adding that Gandhi family's enmity with Punjabis has not faded.
He accused Gandhi family of attacking Golden temple and 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
Taking a swipe at Congress leaders, Sukhbir said that the dreams of Partap Bajwa, Amarinder Singh and Rahul Gandhi to win Assembly elections in Punjab would never turn into reality.
Talking about sacrilege incidents, Sukhbir who also holds Home portfolio, said that several people had been arrested in connection with heinous crime. "The remaining one or two will also be nabbed," he said.
He said that a probe into sacrilege incident was handed over to CBI as Punjab Police had found involvement of forces in Pakistan and some other countries.
urged Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to expose the perpetrators, who were involved incidents of sacrilege. "Those who dared to do such act should be exposed," he said.
"The recent incidents of desecration of Guru Granth Sahib had tormented the psyche of every Punjabi irrespective of his religion, caste and community because Guru Granth Sahib is an eternal Guru and none could ever tolerate disrespect towards this holy book," he said.
He cautioned people to be aware of nefarious designs of anti-people forces, which are hell bent upon dividing people to achieve their political motives.
The sacrilege incidents of Guru Granth Sahib has bruised the feelings of Sikh community across the globe, adding that the perpetrators of this inhuman crime would not be spared at any cost.
Lambasting at the Chabba function organized by anti-panthic and anti-Punjab forces, she said that it has brought these elements to the fore, who were desperately making every effort to stall the process of prosperity and development in the state, by disturbing the peaceful atmosphere in the state.
The minister said in the testing times, Punjabis always followed the path shown by the great 'Guru Sahiban' and worked relentlessly to maintain peace, harmony and amity in the state.
She said the SAD was the only party which was committed for the welfare and prosperity of all sections of society, while other parties were pursuing their personal agenda through exploiting their religious sentiments.
Bathinda MP also made an emotional appeal to all the people across the globe to celebrate the 'Parkash Gurpurab' of Guru Nanak Dev by illuminating their houses and religious places in a big way so that anti-Punjab and anti-Sikh forces should get a foretaste of the 'never say die' spirit of Punjabis.
On the occasion, Union Minister of state for Social Justice and Empowerment Vijay Sampla said today's mammoth gathering would go a long way in cementing the bonds of peace, communal harmony and brotherhood in the state.
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Meanwhile, the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal warned Congress leaders that the flames of "hatred politics" will not only destroy the social fabric in the state, but will also "engulf" them thereby decimating their very existence forever.
He said the top priority of the SAD-BJP alliance government was to maintain the law and order in the state through preserving the hard earned peace, amity and harmony at every cost.
Badal said, "I am overwhelmed to see this teeming participation of the people in today's gathering, which has vindicated our stand that they could never be swayed by the false propaganda unleashed by the anti-Punjab forces".
He impressed upon the people to act as 'volunteers of peace' in their respective villages, towns and cities to sensitize their fellow brethren and sisters to inculcate a sense of belongingness, love, peace, amity and brotherhood as preached our great Sikh Gurus, saints, seers and prophets.
SAD President Sukhbir Badal said the Congress party is again "fishing in troubled waters" and "poisoning" the peaceful atmosphere of the state.
Describing Congress as a leader of the "fascist forces" in league with other political parties - AAP and BSP, Sukhbir said the recently held Chabba congregation is a proof enough that the Congress, BSP and AAP are hand in glove with the anti-Punjab, anti-National and secessionist forces who again want to stoke the fires of communalism in the state.