Congress Legislature Party leader Charanjit Singh Channi on Wednesday described Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal’s claim of an improved law and order situation in Punjab as “absurd” and “bizarre”.
Mr Sukhbir had reportedly said on Tuesday that the crime rate in Punjab had fallen since his government took charge in 2007, citing National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data.
“It is shocking that the ghastly crime scene in Punjab does not prick the conscience of Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal,” Mr Channi said.
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Bringing up the attack on Sikh preacher Ranjit Singh Dhadrianwale, Channi questioned Sukhbir how he would explain an incident like that if crime was indeed falling in the state.
“What was all the more horrifying was the fact that a prominent person with whom the assailants were associated had warned of retaliation in case his organisation was criticised,” he said.
Mr Channi also cited the murder of Mata Chand Kaur, the wife of a former Namdhari sect chief, at Bhaini Sahib, and said the assailant was yet to be arrested.
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“No progress”
He claimed incidents of sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib had taken place and investigations had made “no progress”.
The Congress leader also hit out at Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal for announcing a series of functions to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the formation of Punjab, at a time when the situation in the state was “deteriorating”. PTI