Anarchy prevailed for 26 hours, emergency services disrupted
Punjab News Express/Satinder Bains
CHANDIGARH: The Congress government in Punjab today remained mute spectator to the anarchy created on roads by SAD-BJP alliance by blocking all main highways for about 26 hours. The dharnas laid by SAD-BJP were lifted only after High Court intervened on a Public Interest Litigation filed by an advocate.
SAD-BJP alliance had started dharna on all main roads in the state in protest against rejection of nomination papers of their candidates in the Municipal Corporation and Committee elections. The Congress government seemed facilitating the dharnas by not taking action against the protesters.
Punit Bali advocate in the High Court who filed a petitioon in the High court said that dharna by SAD was totally illegal and against the law of the land. He said that Government also failed in maintaining law and order in the state. It is absolute failure of state government that for 26 hours public life was brought to stand still. He added that High Court had specicically stated in a recent case of propsoed dharna by farmers at Capt Amarinder Singh's residence in Patiala that Police shall immediately impose prohibitory orders to maintain law and order. It is high time peole who are responsible should be made accoutble. The opposition parties and the persons who are in pwoer have violated the law themselves.
Bali hailed high court for entertained the petition and sought a report on the dharnas. The High Court also directed to impose section 144 to the police. Bali said that intervention by High court was main reason that dharnas were lifted.
The Congress government had on the other hand announced to withdraw section 307 of IPC from the cases registered against some SAD leaders at Zira in Moga district. An insurance in this regard was given by Rajinder Singh DIG Ferozepur range. Conceading demands of SAD-BJP, the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has handed over probe of clashes between SAD.
The questions are being raised on the role of Congress government which failed to take timely action against protesters jamming the roads. The same government had imposed section 144 of IPC in Patiala where farmers had announced to hold dharna in front of Chief Minister's rersidence. The farmers were who tried to reach Patiala were arrested by police and dharna was foiled. Similar action was taken against Anganwadi workers who were protesting against closure of Anganwadi centers. Why Capt Amarinder Singh government was soft on SAD-BJP workers?
The commuters yesterday and today faced harrassment as thousands of tourists going to Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashnir, the college and school going students, government employees and general travellers remained stranded on roads overnight. Sukhbir Badal president of SAD was leading dharna at Harike Pattan yesterday and late in the evening he announced to extend dharna indefinitely. The Akali workers on other spots also extended dharna and lifted only after 26 hours.
SAD faced flak for holding dharna all over the state whereas the elections were being held only in three Municipal Corporations and 32 Committees. What was the fault of common people who were made to suffer even emergency services like ambulances were not allowed to ply. SAD spokesman H.S.Bains in a TV debate said that they had tried all constitutional means to lodge their protest against highhandedness of Conress government but they were forced to take extreme step.