Ruling Shiromani Akali Dal on Sunday dubbed the attack on a delegation led by Punjab’s NRI affairs minister Tota Singh in New York as an act of “frustration” by some “vested interests”.
The opposition Congress, however, latched onto the incident to hit out at the state government saying it was a “manifestation of the anger that NRI Punjabis particularly the Sikhs have against Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his government” for their “hollow promises” and “failure on all fronts”.
Tota Singh and his delegation came under attack in New York as hundreds of Sikhs protesting his visit allegedly threw stones and hurled a shoe at them.
“It is mere frustration of some vested interests who do not want the Akalis to present the true picture of Punjab abroad,” SAD MP and party Secretary General Prem Singh Chandumajra said.
He said the incident is “unfortunate” as Akali leadership was making efforts to ensure that NRIs come and invest in the state.