SAD core committee cautions Centre against scuttling farmers’ demands

CHANDIGARH : The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Wednesday cautioned the central government against using Tuesday’s violent incidents in Delhi as an excuse to scuttle the farmers’ genuine demands.

In a resolution passed at an emergency meeting of its core committee, the SAD said it would aggressively pursue these demands in the forthcoming session of the Parliament.

Condemning the violent clashes in the national capital, the party said it stood opposed to the use of violence in any form by anyone.

“We are firmly of the view that Punjab and the country can progress and prosper only through the perseverance of the atmosphere of peace and communal harmony,” a SAD release stated, reiterating the party’s strong and unswerving commitment to peace and communal harmony.

‘Int’l agency should probe violence’

HOSHIARPUR : The party also demanded an inquiry by an international agency into the violence.

Alleging that it was the handiwork of the Centre, senior leader Bikram Singh Majithia said the trouble was orchestrated to torpedo farmers’ agitation.

Addressing the media here on Wednesday, he said the men who hoisted a religious flag at the Red Fort were linked to certain Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders.

He added that easy passage to the rioters inside the fort and the presence of select media before the trouble arose raised questions on the intentions of the central government and security forces.

He said farmers had been peacefully holding demonstrations for more than two months to protect their rights, but some persons at the behest of the Centre intruded in the guise of farmers to bring a bad name to the agitation.

Since state agencies could not be expected to hold a fair inquiry, an international agency should bring out truth, he said.