Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Friday held AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal “responsible for the collapse of law and order situation and steep rise in extortion and targeted killings in Punjab”. “Punjab is slipping into lawlessness, but Kejriwal, who is ruling the state as proxy, is only interested in collecting money,” Sukhbir alleged, urging the people to "unite to stop the loot of Punjab and its resources by Kejriwal”. Sukhbir made statements during his visit to Moga to enquire about the condition of Dr Aniljit Kamboj, who continues to be on ventilator support at a private hospital after being shot at by alleged associates of designated terrorist Lakhbir Landa, alias Landa Harike. The former chief minister said, “Targeted killings have increased drastically. Renowned businessman Sanjay Verma of Abohar was gunned down a few days ago. The situation has become so bad that prominent businessmen have started investing in other states. People in the state are in perpetual fear as they have no trust in the state security apparatus to safeguard their lives.” Sukhbir said, “Previous SAD governments had a stellar record as far as maintaining law and order is concerned. The SAD has always stood for peace and communal harmony. We made this a reality during our stints in power.” Badal said the situation “deteriorated to such an extent because Punjab is being remote-controlled from Delhi. Delhiwalas have no interest in the welfare of Punjabis; they are busy looting the state.” Later, the SAD president held meetings with party leaders and workers in Jagraon and Ludhiana over the July 15 protest against the AAP government's land pooling scheme. “We will not allow even one inch of land to be acquired,” Sukhbir said, alleging: “The AAP government wants to grab 24,000 acres of fertile land on the periphery of Ludhiana City in the name of the land pooling scheme. Party units in Jagraon and Ludhiana told me that they would not let the nefarious design of the AAP government to sell the 24,000 acres to builders of Delhi succeed at any cost.” “Farmers have realised that their fertile land is going to be acquired forcibly for peanuts under an old acquisition law,” Badal added.
