Sidhu slams AAP govt over Patiala violence
AMRITSAR: Former Punjab Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu on Monday slammed the Aam Aadmi Party government in the state for the last week’s clashes in Patiala, saying that chief minister Bhagwant Mannled dispensation is short of enough experience and failed to take preventive measures to avoid the incident that was designed to create panic and polarise voters for political gains.
Sidhu was interacting with the media after leading a candle light march taken at the heritage street near Golden Temple.
He said the march was taken out for unity, peace and universal brotherhood and to protest against divisive forces hell bent to polarise Punjab.
“Socio-economic fabric of punjabiyat is our invincible armour,” he said, adding that a memorandum was submitted to the government and yet it did not take preventive action.
“A wise man takes preventive measures on seeing any trouble ahead. The government should have imposed section 144 at that time. It should have adopted the strategy of ‘prevent and repair’ rather than ‘repent and repair’. The government is short of enough experience,” he said.
The memorandum was submitted to police officials by Barjinder Singh Parwana, who has been arrested as the key accused in this case, seeking ban on the “Khalistan-murdabad” march planned by right-wing leaders, including Harish Singla.
Sidhu said that everybody knows who was behind the sacrilege. “It was done just to create panic and polarise voters for political gains. Efforts are being made to divide us. We were one, are and will remain,” he added.
“Punjab demands peace and business. However, some forces are trying to spread an atmosphere of fear. I strongly condemn it,” he said, accompanied by his supporters, including ex-mlas Ashwani Sekhri, Navtej Singh Cheema and Sunil Dutti.