SAD workers protest against collusion and surrender of CM before centre on issue of extension of control of central forces over half of the State)
Chandigarh, (Gurpreet)– Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Singh Badal today courted arrest along with senior party leaders and workers after a prolonged sit-in close to a barricaded Raj Bhawan in solidarity with Punjabis who are affronted by the manner in which chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi has colluded and surrendered in front of the centre which has extended control over law order across half of the State.
The SAD President courted arrest and was taken in a bus along with senior leaders and workers to the sector three police station. Akali workers raised slogans against the Congress party and the BJP for hatching the anti-Punjab conspiracy.
Earlier while addressing a gathering when stopped from proceeding to the Raj Bhawan by barricading, Mr Sukhbir Badal said this was the second time that the centre had impinged on the rights of Punjab in quick succession. “The centre has discriminated against the farmers of the State by bringing in the three farm laws. Now it is effectively taking control over law and order over half of the State by extending the jurisdiction of the Border Security Force (BSF)”.
Terming the move as an attack on the federal structure of the State, Mr Badal said now even our holy shrines like Sri Darbar Sahab, Durgiana Mandir and Ram Tirath will come under control of central forces. “The SAD will fight to right this wrong as we stand for a genuine federal structure. It is condemnable that the chief minister agreed to this anti-Punjab step during his meeting with union home minister Amit Shah on October 5. Channi has sold off the interests of the State to secure a few more months in office”.
Mr Badal said earlier also Punjab had been discriminated against with the Congress government taking away its river waters. “Few years earlier we even lost control of the revenue generated by us with the introduction of the GST regime. Now even our land and its policing are being taken away from us”.
The SAD President said it was condemnable that neither the chief minister nor Home minister Sukhjinder Randhawa had mounted an effective opposition to the new measure. “Punjab is yet to reject the move also”, he said while assuring Punjabis that once a SAD-BSP alliance government was formed in the State the measure would be made null and void.
Former minister Bikram Singh Majithia said the new central move had reminded people of the dark days of militancy while the central forces held full sway in the State. He said Sukhjinder Randhawa had as Jails minister supported this measure by stating that the control of jails should be given to the CRPF. He said now the situation was such that even the Home Minister Sukhjinder Randhawa’s village had come under control of central forces.
Senior leaders Dr Daljit Singh Cheema, Surjit Singh Rakhra, N K Sharma and Parambans Romana also courted arrest along with the party president.