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Journalism of Courage
Former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal Thursday expressed “grave concern and anxiety” over the “sequence of recent events in Punjab” and called for “an end to the ongoing wave of repression against innocents” and maximum vigil to preserve the hard earned atmosphere of peace and communal harmony in the state. “This is a critical hour and it calls for an exercise of optimum restraint, sagacity and far sightedness by those in power,” said Badal.
In a message, the five time former chief minister expressed “anguish” over the prevailing situation in Punjab and said that this is an outcome directly of an inept handling of a sensitive situation by the present government. “Their style of governance has posed a serious challenge to peace, law and order and social harmony in the state. For fifteen years, three successive governments led by me not only ensured peace and harmony among Punjabis of all faiths and shades of opinion but also put the state firmly on a fast-track development mode, visible everywhere even today. But things began to degenerate the moment we left and everyone can see that degeneration around them now,” he said.
Badal, however, said that his party will cooperate with everyone regardless of our political differences to bring back peace, harmony and progress to the state. “Peace is beyond and above political divisions . All of us must work together as Punjabis to salvage our state. We will always go the extra mile to cooperate with others for this sacred objective,” he said.
The Akali Dal patron said that discharging constitutional obligations is an extremely serious matter requiring a serious and responsible approach. “Petty vengefulness visible these days is a sure recipe for disaster for good governance,” he said.
Without naming Sikh preacher and Khalistan sympathiser Amritpal Singh, who is on the run, the Akali Dal leader raised the issue of the recent “police and para military action”. He said that the government failed in their primary declared objective and then tried to cover this failure up with massive propaganda by unleashing a reign of repression against innocent youth who faced no charges prior to this. “I am surprised that they are calling this a success even as the state drifts into tension. Instead of discharging their primary constitutional obligation of maintaining peace, the rulers of today are busy defaming the patriotic people of Punjab.”
Badal said that no innocents should be put to any hardship and those picked up in haste without credible grounds must be released forthwith. “The Sikhs are the guarantors of not only the freedom but also the security of our motherland. The government and the media are doing a grave injustice by painting a brave and patriotic community as separatists. This is a repeat of the Congress ways in the 1980s and 90s. It must stop forthwith,” he added.
The message comes two days after Badal, named in a charge sheet in the 2015 Kotkapura police firing case, in an open letter, accused the AAP government of falsely implicating him.
The former chief minister said he witnessed a lot of ups and downs in his 70 years of public service and claimed to have fought “brutal government repression”, spending a major part of his life in jails for the rightful demands of ‘Panth’ and Punjabis. Having fought against the “oppression” of governments all his life, Badal said he would continue to fight even now, at the age of 95.
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