Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal said he respect the Punjab government's offer to celebrate 550th Parkash Purb function of Guru Nanak Dev at Sultanpur Lodhi under the patronage of Akal Takht and with the support of SGPC.
Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Tuesday had sent a letter through his two cabinet ministers and later spoke to Akal Takht Jathedar to resolve the ongoing deadlock over holding the main event.
Badal claimed that his party has been batting for it from the beginning.
"But what pained me is the fact that barely two hours after his ministers had presented the letter to Akal Takht Jathedar, Captain (Amarinder Singh) told media that SGPC could take care of religious events inside the gurdwara, while the state government would look after the function outside it," he said.
"The entire Sikh Sangat all over the world want joint celebration of Guru Nanak's Parkash Purb as the guru preached 'Sarbat Da Bhala' (welfare of all) and Captain should not put any rider or condition on his offer for celebrating it under the command of Akal Takht Sahib," he added.
The former Punjab deputy chief minister was talking to reporters after addressing a poll rally for BJP-SAD nominee Rajesh Bagha here.
On the government's decision to release five cops convicted of fake encounters during militancy, Badal said, "One cannot compare remission of sentence of Sikhs who had completed their term in jails with the human rights violation by men in uniform."