CHANDIGARH: Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has warned Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal that his government would not tolerate “coercive tactics” against police and administrative officials. In statements came a day after the latter reportedly said that his party was in the process of filing a petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, seeking action against police officials who were “implicating his party's workers in false cases at the behest of the ruling party's MLAs.”
Amarinder said his government did not believe in “victimisation or vindictive” action, but was following the democratic norms in every case. He also warned the former deputy chief minister to “desist” from engaging in “provocative” statements and deeds that could disturb and disrupt the state's peace and stability, making it clear that the ruling Congress in the state would come down heavily on individuals or organisations indulging in such activities. Singh rejected allegations that his government and its officers were filing cases against the Akalis, saying it was the erstwhile Badal government that believed in filing false and baseless cases.
He said that the government was now getting all cases probed by a duly constituted commission to ensure that justice is delivered to the innocent and the guilty are punished under the law. “Even though it has enough evidence against several Akali leaders and workers, his government would wait for the inquiry commission to submit its report,” the CM said. He added that they wanted to go by the book and not take any action without following the due process. Amarinder accused Sukhbir and other leaders from SAD of spreading “disinformation” to save their own skin. With their “misdeeds getting exposed”, he said, they are now resorting to all kinds of “cheap” tactics out of “sheer desperation” to divert public attention.
