Chandigarh/ Punjab (March 07, 2014): Punjab politicians belonging to ruling Badal-BJP combine and the opposition Congress party came close to exchanging blows in Punjab assembly on the tragic events of 1984 with no issues spared: declassified UK documents, induction of former-militants in party fold and respect for a ‘Sikh Prime Minister’.

Punjab politicians traded aggressive remarks on the issues on March 05, the day when the India’s Election Commission announced Lok Sabha poll dates, setting a fiery tone for the elections in once a terror-ridden border state.

Badal Dal spokesperson and MLA Daljeet Singh Cheema said that the Congress party must tell us if the cabinet in 1984 was informed of the decision to seek advisory support from the UK as has been revealed through the declassified documents in Britain.

DS Cheema also attacked sitting MLAs of Congress to ask Rahul Gandhi to apologize and name the leaders involved in the 1984 massacre of Sikhs, triggering a volley of reactions from the opposition.

Congress leader of opposition Sunil Jakhar slammed Badal Dal for having never honoured “Punjabi and Sikh” Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh in the last 10 years and pressed the assembly to pass a resolution to “thank him for bringing honour to the community and state”.

“PM Manmohan Singh did everything for Punjab. He opened Guru Granth Sahib study centre in Amritsar university, sanctioned Rs 1000-crore mini PGI hospital in Sangrur, started special train service for pilgrims to five takht shrines and Rs 2200-crore dam for Shahpur Kandi in Hoshiarpur,” said Jakhar.

Young Congress MLAs — Raja Warring from Gidderbaha and Charanjit Singh Channi from Chamkaur Sahib — both of whom were handpicked by Rahul for Punjab polls in 2012 then tore into a former militant-turned two-time Badal Dal MLA Virsa Singh Valtoha.

Before joining the Akali Dal, Valtoha remained in jail for many years and faced a string of cases against himself for his alleged involvement in terrorist activities. “Virsa Singh Valtoha, you are one of the instigators of 1984 riots. You gunned down three Hindu families. You were booked by the police and jailed, and are now enjoying Akali Dal patronage. Don’t you dare question our involvement,” remarked Warring.

Valtoha made threatening gestures at the 29-year-old Congress MLA as he screamed back: “Main kaum da rakshak si… par tussi sikha de katil ho (I have been a protector of the community but you are the killers of Sikhs).”

Later, Channi targeted BJP leader L K Advani for having admitted to advising Indira Gandhi about attack on Darbar Sahib in his book “My Country, My Life”.