Amarinder asks Badal to resign, seeks President’s rule

Former chief minister of Punjab Captain Amarinder Singh asked Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal on Saturday to resign and sought imposition of President’s rule in the state as there was complete collapse of law and order besides social and economic unrest. “The way things are going on right now, the state is set to head for anarchy,” he said. Amarinder was addressing a press conference at the residence of Jaitu legislator Joginder Singh here.

Amarinder was here to express sympathy with the families of the two victims of police firing on protesters at Bargari village on Wednesday. He also visited the dharna site in the village. From Bargari, he left for Niamiwala village and then to Sarawan village to meet families of firing victims Krishan Bhagwan Singh and Gurdeep Singh.

“Badal has completely lost control of the situation. Earlier, I had been asking for financial emergency, but now the situation has gone out of control with widespread social unrest that is threatening to assume dangerous proportions”, he said, while adding, the angry youth roaming on the roads with unsheathed swords was certainly a cause of concern and Badal was responsible for it.

“The greatest favour that Badal can do for Punjab will be to quit and let elections be held under President’s rule,” he said, while responding to reporters’ questions over the chief minister’s visit to Darbar Sahib praying for peace.

“It is ironical that the man responsible for the unrest is praying for peace now,” he said, while remarking, “he is trying to shed crocodile tears.

He reiterated his charges against Badal that he had misused the sacred institutions like Akal Takht and the SGPC.

“There is lot of anger and resentment among the people over the abuse of authority for personal interest,” he said, while maintaining that even some of staunch Akalis have started raising voices of revolt against Badal.

Amarinder expressed confidence and satisfaction after meeting the protesters that wherever he went and whomsoever he met stressed upon maintaining peace in Punjab. He said everybody had the feeling that Punjab could not afford any unrest.

“The buck stops at Badal since he as the chief minister is responsible for whatever happens here,” he asserted, while pointing out, had timely action been taken when the holy ‘bir’ was reported stolen, the situation might not have come to such a pass.

The former chief minister warned that the social unrest, coupled with rising unemployment and economic downslide did not augur well for Punjab.

“We want Punjab to be completely peaceful and, if we allow such things to happen, Punjab can never come back on the path of development,” he pointed out.

Amarinder was accompanied by Sunil Jakhar, Kushaldeep Singh Dhillon, Rana Gurjeet Singh Sodhi, Darshan Brar, Ajaib Bhatti and Gurpreet Kangar besides some others.

Chief minister, Punjab, Captain Amarinder Singh, Parkash Singh Badal, news, hindustantimes

First Published: Oct 17, 2015 23:49 IST