Opposition parties in Punjab, on Friday, criticised the ruling Badal government on the deteriorating law and order situation in the State ahead of the Assembly polls. This comes after Election Commission (EC) officials, alongwith the police, raided a sub-jail in Fazilka on Wednesday and booked 25 people including liquor baron Shiv Lal Doda — who reportedly has close ties with the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal — for holding unauthorised meeting inside jail premises.
Punjab Congress leaders on Friday approached the EC on the Fazilka jail incident alleging that the ‘’Badal’’ government was influencing the probe into the incident and was soft peddling the case.
“The police were trying to save the culprits by distorting facts,” Congress leader Sunil Jakhar said , after submitting a memorandum to Chief Electoral Officer V.K. Singh.
The Congress demands immediate dismissal of “Badal” government, Mr. Jakhar said in the memorandum, adding to conduct the Assembly polls under the President’s rule to prevent any interference or disturbance in the electoral process. He demanded handing over of the probe to a central agency.
Mr. Jakhar said the incident assumes more significance in the light of the recent Nabha jailbreak, where five gangsters had escaped from the high-security prison and not one had been rearrested.
Later, Punjab Congress president Capt. Amarinder Singh said the incident had exposed the support the criminals were getting under the current State government.
Aam Aadmi Party leader Sanjay Singh launched an attack on the State government urging the EC to keep a tab on the Akali leaders meeting criminals in jails.
