War of words between SAD(A), Shiv Sena

Phagwara, Punjab: Tension prevails in the town owing to a war of words between the Shiv Sena and Sikh radicals on communal issue. The Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) took serious notice of the stand, whereas the Shiv Sena (Bal Thackeray) at its meeting held here recently announced holding of a religious congregation of Swami Ashutosh of Divya Jagriti Sansthan at here soon.

SAD (A) state executive member Jathedar Rajinder Singh Fauji criticised the statements of a few Shiv Sena leaders who had announced removal of stickers of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale from vehicles. In a press release, Fauji challenged the Shiv Sena leaders to show their strength by organising any congregation of Swami Ashutosh and dared them to remove any sticker of Bhindranwale from any vehicle. He appealed to religious and social Hindu leaders to control the provocative actions of the Shiv Sena and urged the administration to book elements which were spoiling the peaceful atmosphere of the state.