(Says govt in paralysis on both law and order and financial front, says new excise policy will push out small businessmen from liquor trade)
Sangrur: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Singh Badal today appealed to Punjabis to recognize the sacrifices made by the Sikh detenues and unite as one to free them by electing Biba Kamaldeep Kaur Rajoana to the Lok Sabha from this parliamentary seat.
Addressing worker meetings at Sunam, Dirba, Dhuri and Bhawanigarh, the SAD President said the Sikh detenues had acted in an emotional state of mind and had even been given life sentences for the same. “However despite the completion of their life sentences they continue to languish in jail”, he said while giving the example of Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana who was in jail for the last 28 years without parole.
He related how Bhai Rajaoana was incarcerated in an eight feet by eight feet cell in the ‘phansi chakki’ in the Patiala central jail and how despite commutation of his sentence Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal was not signing his release orders since the last seven months.
Asserting that the families of the Sikh detenues had also suffered tremendously, Badal related how Biba Rajoana’s nineteen year old married sister was killed by the police. “Even Biba’s brother was killed and their house was burnt”. The SAD President also related how the SAD had always stood in solidarity with the Sikh detenues.
“ Parkash Singh Badal took a firm stand as chief minister and prevented Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana from being hanged. Similarly the SAD played the main role in commuting the sentence of Prof Devinderpal Singh Bhullar and also ensured his parole”. Later while talking to newsmen, Badal disclosed how governance was in paralysis and the law and order situation had broken down completely.
“This is because this government is run from Delhi with Arvind Kejriwal taking a decision on all postings and transfers of civil and police officials. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann does not have any say in the running of the government”. Asserting that the financial condition of the State had also been rendered precarious by the AAP government, Badal said it was shocking that the government had taken a debt of Rs 9,000 crore in three months only.
He said this was because the government was not taking any steps to generate revenue. He also condemned the new excise policy which he said was aimed at handing over the liquor business in the State to few players from outside the State and forcing hundreds of local businessmen out of business.
Earlier while speaking at the worker meetings, Biba Rajoana made an emotional appeal to Punjabis to help in the task of freeing all Sikh detenues from jail. She also appealed to SAD (Amritsar) President Simranjit Singh Mann to help in this task, saying the community had united as one to free him from jail by ensuring his resounding victory in the 1989 parliamentary polls.
Senior leader Balwinder Singh Bhundur while speaking at the worker meetings said AAP had asked for one chance and Punjabis had elected them to office. “But what has AAP done? Forget giving Rs 1,000 per month to all women and providing jobs to youth, the AAP government has not even been able to reduce the sand prices or end the drug menace which has increased manifold”.
Others who spoke on the occasion included Baldev Singh Mann, Gulzar Singh Ranike, Maheshinder Singh Grewal, Parkash Chand Garg, Manpreet Ayali, Dilraj Singh Bhundur, Prem Kumar Arora, Virsa Singh Valtoha and Karnail Singh Peermohammad.
