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End “wave of repression” against innocents, says Badal Senior
Former Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal on Thursday expressed grave concern over the sequence of recent events in Punjab and called for an end to the ongoing “wave of repression” against innocents and maximum vigil to preserve the hard earned atmosphere of peace and communal harmony in the state.
Former Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal on Thursday expressed grave concern over the sequence of recent events in Punjab and called for an end to the ongoing “wave of repression” against innocents and maximum vigil to preserve the hard earned atmosphere of peace and communal harmony in the state.
“This is a critical hour and it calls for an exercise of optimum restraint, sagacity and far-sightedness by those in power,” he said.
Badal expressed anguish over the prevailing situation and said that this is an outcome directly of an “inept handling of a sensitive situation” by the present government. “Their style of governance has posed a serious challenge to peace, law and order, and social harmony in the state. For fifteen years, three successive government led by me not only ensured peace and harmony among Punjabis of all faiths and shades of opinion but also put the state firmly on a fast-track development mode, visible everywhere even today. But things began to degenerate the moment we left and everyone can see that degeneration around them now,” he said.
Badal said that discharging constitutional obligations by a government is an extremely serious matter requiring a serious and responsible approach. “Petty vengefulness visible these days is a sure recipe for disaster for good governance,” he said.
Commenting on the recent police and para military action, Badal said that “they failed in their primary declared objective” and then tried to cover this failure up with massive propaganda and by unleashing a “reign of repression” against innocent youth, who faced no charges prior to this. “I am surprised that they are calling this a success even as the state drifts into tension. Instead of discharging their primary constitutional obligation of maintaining peace, the rulers of today are busy defaming the patriotic people of Punjab.”
