Parkash Badal govt behind Punjab violence: Congress

The Congress claimed the desecration of the holy book was the handiwork of the Akali Dal, which wanted to “divert attention” from the agitation by cotton farmers over crop loss. Punjab PCC president Partap Singh Bajwa said the cotton crop had failed due to spurious pesticides. He said the Congress has been demanding a CBI probe into the purchase of these pesticides.

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“Our charge is that this act has been done at the instance of the state government. The state government and the agencies of the state are involved. It is a very serious charge,” said Bajwa, demanding a “time bound” probe by a sitting judge of the Supreme Court to “identify and bring to book the culprits.”

Sikh outfits have demanded the arrest of police officials involved in the firing at Behbal Kalan village in which two persons were killed. Bajwa said the Faridkot DCP told him that he had not given any written order for firing.

“An open FIR has been lodged, the police officers who are involved have not been identified,” said Bajwa. “There is complete chaos. The President of India and the Government of India must intervene. Punjab is a border state, a most sensitive state. The Central government should intervene and President’s Rule should be imposed,” he said.

He said Badal and his son and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal should resign immediately. “The district where this incident has happened is their home district and they have failed,” he said.