No state level function on 49th Punjab formation day

Facing public ire over its alleged inability to take action against the culprits involved in the recent incidents of sacrilege of holy book, Punjab government today failed to organise a state-level function to mark its 49th formation day.
Deputy chief minister and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Badal attended a rally at Rohtak in Haryana organised by the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) to mark Haryana Day.
Haryana was also carved out of the previous undivided Punjab on November 1, 1966.
Across the state, Akali leaders stayed away from making an appearance in public.
Akalis had spearheaded the Punjabi Suba movement of the '50s and the '60s that led to the creation of the present Punjab.

In Patiala, higher education and language minister Surjit Singh Rakhra skipped a function organised by the state language department on its premises.

Even as a huge hoarding on stage proclaimed the minister as the chief guest, he failed to turn up for 'unspecified reasons'.
With no other Akali leader turning up, the organisers downgraded the function to a district-level seminar.
The Leader of opposition in the state assembly Congress MLA from Abohar Sunil Jakhar has slammed deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal for attending a function in Haryana on Punjab Day.
"Akalis are afraid of facing the ire of the people of Punjab," he said.

"Sukhbir must explain that why he chose to attend a rally in Rohtak on Haryana Day when during the creation of that state, Punjab was the loser.During his address there, Sukhbir has said that Haryana and Punjab were like brothers. He must tell Punjabis whether the brothers have sorted out the issue of sharing of river waters," Jakhar claimed.
He also charged the SAD with betraying the state's residents.
"The Akalis launched the Punjabi Suba movement with only one motive - to create a state where only their party could form the government. Badals gained, but Punjabis have been the losers. Akalis must answer," he alleged.