TIA NEWS
CHANDIGARH: Expressing deep concern over the recent incidents of sacrilege in Punjab, the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have demanded the centre to impose president rule in the state.
The demand comes on a day when the Centre deployed 10 Border Security Force companies, comprising 1,000 personnel, at Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Tarn Taran.
Leaders of the Congress and AAP, met Punjab Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki today and pleaded him to recommend imposition of President’s rule in the state.
The Congress delegation was led by Congress Legislature Party leader Sunil Jakhar. “As the law and order is going out of control, any delay may lead to grave consequences,” Jakhar said. He pointed out that if timely action had been taken in apprehending the culprits responsible for desecrating the holy book at Bargari village, such unrest would not have taken place.
“The conditions are going from bad to worse with each passing day. The state government seems to have been paralysed and is incapable to bring the situation under control. With the kind of volatile situation prevailing in Punjab, any small incident can snowball into a major catastrophe. A tragedy is waiting to happen on the streets of Punjab,” he told Governor.
“Now, the onus is on the Centre to take timely action. Rather than wait for it, the Central government can prevent any such untoward incident by imposing President’s rule. With the SAD-BJP government having abdicated its responsibility, the Centre should take charge. Punjab cannot be left rudderless at such a critical juncture,” said Jakhar.
“We have been compelled to seek your personal intervention to restore peace in Punjab and to protect the cherished values of Punjabiyat which are manifested through religious tolerance, brotherhood and communal harmony. Punjab is being pushed into black days of death and destruction,” said the memorandum submitted to the Governor by the Congress leaders.
AAP MP from Sangrur Bhagwant Mann, said AAP’s Punjab convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur and MPs Bhagwant Mann and Prof Sadhu Singh also met the Governor.
They demanded that the culprits should be brought to book. Besides, a Supreme Court-monitored independent probe should be ordered and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal should resign. They also apprised the Governor about the “collapsing” law and order situation in the state.
Protests continue across state
Meanwhile protest over the alleged sacrilege of the holy “bir” continued to paralyse normal life for the seventh consecutive day in many parts of the state on Tuesday.
Pakistan’s Sikh community on Tuesday also staged a demonstration over alleged sacrilege of the holy book of the Sikhs and raised slogans against the Indian government.
Foreign Hand
Meanwhile the Punjab Police has claimed that they had evidence to suggest international conspiracy behind the sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib at Faridkot’s Bargari village on October 12.
The police claimed they arrested two brothers, Rupinder Singh and Jaswinder Singh of Panjgarayin village in Fardikot, for their alleged involvement in the Bargari incident. The two were allegedly getting instructions and funding from handlers in Australia and Dubai (UAE). The police claimed they had phone transcripts to support the claim.
Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, addressing mediapersons in the presence of senior Akali leaders, said: “We have unearthed the conspiracy. We urge everyone to maintain peace and communal harmony. The perpetrators of the crime will get a stringent punishment.”
Capt for inquiry by SC judge
Congress Deputy Leader in the LS Capt Amarinder Singh has demanded an inquiry by a sitting High Court or Supreme Court judge to find out the truth about the sacrilege and the incidents that followed. He further asked Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to stop looking for excuses for his failures.- AMN