Mudslinging and election overtones today ruled the political conferences held here to mark the Maghi mela.
Political overtones prevailed in the conferences held by ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Congress, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and SAD (Amritsar).
Maghi mela is held every year to pay tributes to 40 'Muktas' (liberated ones) who laid down their lives while fighting the last battle of Sikhs against the Mughals in 1705 at Khidrane di dhab, now known as Muktsar.
The political conferences assumed more significance since the assembly polls are due next year.
During the confrences it appeared that as if the parties had reduced the occasion to an opportunity to test their strengths to attract crowds, and launch attack on political opponents.
The conferences of AAP and SAD were claimed to have attracted more crowds as compared to the political conferences of Congress and SAD(A).
Signalling the beginning of a fierce poll battle, SAD, Congress and AAP leaders launched an unsparing attack on each other.
While Akalis led by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal and Congress' Amarinder Singh attacked Arvind Kejriwal by labelling him as a "liar", the AAP supremo lambasted the Badals and Congress.
It was the first political rally addressed in Punjab by Kejriwal, who is eyeing the state in polls, after the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.
The political leaders were at their lowest ebb in attacking the opponents.
The leaders spared no time to touch the issue of sacrifice the Muktas at this holy place.
