Chandigarh/New Delhi, Dec 26 (ANI): Punjab's Deputy Chief Minister and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Sukhbir Singh Badal on Wednesday refuted allegations that leaders from his party assaulted a senior police official at a nightclub in Ludhiana.
Clarifying that those accused of the alleged assault were expelled from the Shiromani Akali Dal six months ago and were not associated with the outfit anymore, Badal alleged that his party was blamed for every unlawful activity in Punjab.
"I want to tell you very clearly, whatever lawlessness or any such incident takes place in Punjab, the Akali Dal is blamed," Badal told mediapersons in Chandigarh.
" In this incident, that person was not a part of Akali Dal for the last six months. Secondly, this incident took place in a private restaurant owned by this person, where two of them went first in a plain clothes, not in a police dress or he did not have any gunman along," he added.
Meanwhile, All India Congress Committee General Secretary Gulchain Singh Charak, while reacting to this case, said that the Akalis frequently indulge in hooliganism and taint the image of Punjab.
"All I will say is that there is a very disturbing atmosphere in Punjab. This is not the first instance, before this, in every place or city, the Akalis have indulged in hooliganism," Charak told mediapersons in New Delhi.
"He was a senior police officer and the manner in which they assaulted him and fractured his leg, this is heights of lawlessness," he added.
Another Congress leader Pratap Singh Bajwa also echoed similar sentiments on the issue, saying it is extremely unfortunate that the Punjab Police, which was considered to be an extraordinary force at one point, has become only an extension counter of the Akali Dal.
"This time around, their agenda is clear. Earn money and push and assault those who are not under you. The people who do not agree to your demands in a polite manner, you beat them up. It is unfortunate that the Punjab police, which was considered to be an extraordinary force at one point, but today it is only an extension counter of the Akali Dal," Bajwa told mediapersons in Chandigarh.
"The job of the Punjab Police is to threaten political opponents, beat them up and try to change their opposition's political alliance," he added.
Bajwa further said that the Shiromani Akali Dal houses all members, who are either goons or involved in unlawful activities.
"They have only one motive, which is to bring down their political opponents. Nobody gets justice in Punjab. The members of the youth wing of the Shiromani Akali Dal are goons and mafia. There is not even a single day in Punjab, when major events like assaults are not taking place," said Bajwa.
"You can see how they beat up the senior police officer, when his family was with him and the FIR was registered after 24 hours. You can imagine, if a common man in Punjab can hope to get justice," he added.
In a brazen abuse of power in Punjab, Assistant Inspector General (AIG) S.S. Mand was assaulted at a nightclub in Ludhiana, about 110 km from Chandigarh, on Monday, and was admitted to a hospital with serious injuries in his leg.
According to reports, former Youth Akali Dal Vice President Sunny Goodwill Johar attacked the senior Punjab cop at a restaurant in full public view as the latter dared to stand up to the former's rowdy behaviour at a private party. (ANI)
|
|
Comments:
