They speak better Punjabi than we do — Badal

“This breed of bulkhi’ sheep are found in Peshawar, Dera Ismail Khan, Bannu and Kohat districts, adjacent to tribal areas of the North-West Frontier Province. Dumbas’ are regarded as a good source of wool and meat and weigh 70-75 kg. This variety eats a kilo of grain every day,” Badal said to the amusement of party workers and scribes who had gathered to greethim.

Describing his visit, he stated that the Pakistan Prime Minister became emotional on receiving soil from his native village. “Even I experienced a similar feeling on reaching Lahore,” said Badal, who had spent his student days at Lahore.

Badal also visited the fort and samadhi of Maharaja Ranjit Singh apart from Gurdwara Dera Sahib. “The atmosphere is the same across the border, and they speak better Punjabi than we do,” Badal quipped.

Later, talking to mediapersons, the Chief Minister said that Punjab’s demands, including the upkeep of Sikh shrines in that country, had been conveyed to Pakistani authorities. “Pakistani authorities assured of help,” he said, adding that political issues cannot be solved overnight.

A suggestion has been made to institute a committee comprising the Shiromani Gurduwara Parbandhak Committee, Pakistani authorities and Sikhs from abroad for the upkeep of gurdwaras. He expressed the hope that cultural exchanges and trade, especially in agricultural items, would beamong the first issues where both countries would be able to arrive at a breakthrough.

When asked to comment on the incidents of violence in Pakistan following the visit of Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, Badal stated that violence often occurs in a system where there is dissent.