New Delhi, Accusing the Congress of encouraging “radical” elements to create disturbances in Punjab, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on Saturday said that Congress was playing a dangerous game for political gains. 

“The Congress party is playing a dangerous role. It is encouraging and supporting radical and secessionist activities in the border state,” Badal said recalling that Punjab had paid very dearly for the same brand of politics in the 1980s when the state was reeling under militancy.

Addressing the media here ahead of his meeting with President Pranab Mukherjee, Badal targeted Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi for turning a blind eye to Congress leaders extending “overt and covert” support to the political leaders engaged in radical politics in the state.

He said that under Rahul Gandhi’s stewardship, the Congress was trying to take Punjab back to its dark days. He sought derecognition of the Congress.

Slamming the Congress for extending tacit support to the November 10 Sarbat Khalsa (congregation of Sikh community) at Amritsar organised by the political outfits preaching radical politics, Badal said that the “Congress helped to plan the gathering, provided logistic support and was also part of the team which drafted the secessionist resolutions which were read out on the occasion”.

On the recent sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib – the Holy book of the Sikhs – which led to widespread disturbances in Punjab, Badal suspected a conspiracy including the involvement of a foreign hand.

Saying that since it involved an investigation that was beyond the scope of Punjab Police, Badal added that the matter has been handed over to the CBI which was probing it.