Capt, Sukhbir in Twitter war over SAD protest Arrest us if you can, we’re ready, SAD chief dares CM
TAKING POTSHOTS Amarinder says SAD violated law by blocking highways; Sukhbir says it’s murder of democracy
CHANDIGARH: Punjab chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal hurled accusations at each other on Twitter on Sunday over cases registered by the state government against the Akali leaders after they blocked the national highways across the state for two days.
While Amarinder said the SAD had violated the law by blocking the national highways and caused inconvenience to people, Sukhbir hit back by charging the state government with “murder of democracy” by not letting people file their nomination papers for the municipal elections and declaring his resolve to expose it. The two leaders posted a series of tweets, taking potshots at each other, in a spar triggered by the highstakes municipal polls. The Akalis had taken to the streets on Thursday in protest against the alleged attack by Congress activists on its workers at Mallanwala, besides registration of “false” cases against some party leaders.
Amarinder was the first one to have a go on Twitter by accusing the SAD of going the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) way of street politics and learning no lessons from Arvind Kejriwal and his party’s poll routs. “Right to protest is indisputable in a democracy. But the way @officeofssbadal @Akali_dal blocked the national highway was not only illegal but against the interest of the people. Not the sign of a healthy opposition!” he tweeted.
The CM also posted that blocking national highways does not just cause hardship to people, it cuts off the strategic supply line of our armed forces in Kashmir and other areas, thus undermining our defence strength. “And despite their claims of being guardians of Sikh religion, @officeofssbadal @Akali_dal also don’t care that blocking highways obstructs pilgrims going to Sri Harmandir Sahib. Only thing they care about is their vested interests,” he posted in one of his five tweets.
Sukhbir Badal, who is among the 1,500-odd Akali leaders and workers booked for putting road blockades across the state on Thursday and Friday, was quick to respond with a string of tweets without mincing words.
“Your goons forced us to come on roads by beating, shooting and not allowing people to file nominations in municipal polls,” he tweeted, tagging the chief minister. Reminding the chief minister of his own street protests, the SAD president posted the photograph of a Congress protest with the caption: “@capt_amarinder-and here’s a pic of you blocking a road. Whom are you trying to fool? SAD will continue to protest for people’s rights.” Sukhbir also asked Amarinder not to adopt a holier than thou attitude.
Amarinder did not let Sukhbir’s allegations pass. “If Akali Dal nominees had been stopped from filing papers they would have grabbed the extra day given by the EC to submit papers. Fact is nobody turned up, clearly expose your blatant falsehoods,” he replied, asking the SAD chief to stop perpetrating lies.
SAD TOUGHENS ITS STANCE A DAY AFTER THE PUNJAB POLICE LODGED CASES AGAINST 1,500 AKALI LEADERS AND WORKERS FOR PUTTING UP BLOCKADES ON HIGHWAYS
CHANDIGARH: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Badal on Sunday said his party cadre and leaders are ready to be arrested in ‘false cases’ registered against them.
“I throw an open challenge before Punjab chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh to arrest us. We are ready. Nearly 1 lakh party workers are ready to go to jail,” Sukhbir said speaking to mediapersons after a meeting of the party core committee here.
The SAD toughened its stance a day after the Punjab Police registered cases against 1,500 Akali workers, 12 MLAS, three MPS and 15 former ministers, for putting up blockades on the state and national highways across the state over alleged attacks on party workers.
On Friday, the police had registered FIR against Sukhbir, and former minister Bikram Singh Majithia who sat on a dharna on Harike bridge on the intervening night of Thursday and Friday demanding withdrawal of cases against their party leaders.
The blockades left had thousands of commuters and commercial vehicles stranded. Anandpur Sahib MP Prem Singh Chandumajra said the party leaders will not apply for bail even as charges in the cases are bailable offences.
Senior Akali leaders Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Charanjeet Singh Atwal, Sewa Singh Sekhwan, Bibi Jagir Kaur, Sikandar Singh Maluka and SGPC president Gobind Singh Longowal were also present.
“I have asked my party to prepare 10 volunteers each from all Punjab villages who will be ready to take on the government. Most of the happenings on the ground are not in the knowledge of the CM and the DGP and the Congress MLAS are directing the SHOS and DSPS to register false cases,” said Sukhbir.
“Our fight against the undemocratic functioning of the Congress government will continue,” he said, referring to the alleged tactics adopted by the ruling party to oust the SAD in the civic body polls.
Sukhbir said the ruling party have not allowed Akali candidates to file nominations for the civic body polls.
He said the party MPS will approach the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in this regard and a delegation of Akali leaders will also meet the governor against the government’s high-handedness.
Sukhbir said the party will also file a petition in the Punjab and Haryana high court with evidence and demand action against the Congress leaders and government officials who “wrongfully registered cases against SAD leaders and workers”.