By IANS,
Chandigarh: Punjab Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal Tuesday told the state assembly that the government would not allow the holding of any function which was likely to jeopardise the hard-earned peace and communal harmony in the state.
“The government has not allowed nor would allow anyone to disturb peace in Punjab,” Badal said, even as his statement was interrupted by slogan-shouting Congress legislators.
Badal’s statement came after Punjab’s industrial hub of Ludhiana witnessed over three days of violence, chaos and closure due to two incidents – firstly, migrants going on the rampage after incidents of crime against them and then, radical Sikh organisations trying to disrupt the religious conference of a controversial sect leader.
Making a suo motto statement on the floor of the house Tuesday on the recent incidents in Ludhiana, Badal, who is also the president of the ruling Akali Dal, said that peace and amity in the state would be maintained at all costs.
He appealed to all political parties, organisations and individuals to “co-operate with the government in this noble task.”
Making a detailed statement on the events surrounding the function held by Divya Jyoti Jagran Sangthan led by sect leader Ashutosh Maharaj in Ludhiana Saturday (Dec 5), Badal said that the tension arose when some organisations declared their intent to stop the function.
“The administration did not bar these organisations from organising their protest in a peaceful and democratic manner. But conditions of a grave and widespread violence arose when some uncontrolled and armed persons took advantage of the situation and started marching towards the site of the proposed function. The administration used patience and persuasion to stop these persons and refrained from use of heavy force to the extent possible,” he pointed out.
He added that the situation took a turn for the worse as the protesters overran police barricades and reached near the venue of the conference. “The police was forced to open fire to avert a major tragedy. One person died in the firing while 11 others were injured,” he added.
Badal said the situation was now fully under control.
He said that 42 people have been arrested in the violence indulged in by migrants Friday.