Bajwa to take up matter in Lok Sabha
Saturday, 08/12/2012
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20121208/punjab.htm#2
Amritsar : Congress Member of Parliament (MP) from Gurdaspur Partap Singh Bajwa today said he would raise the issue of ASI Ravinderpal Singh’s murder by an Akali activist in the Lok Sabha and appeal to the Central Government to seek a report on the law and order situation in Punjab from the Governor.
Addressing mediapersons after visiting the bereaved family, Bajwa said he would prepare a report regarding the incident and hand it over to UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. He alleged that the law and order situation had been deteriorating in the state and that criminal activities were on the rise “under political patronage”.
Attacking the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), he alleged that various such incidents in the past had seen the involvement of SAD leaders and activists. He said the broad daylight murder of the ASI was a blot on the image of Punjab and Punjabis.
He claimed that the ASI’s daughter had told him that the accused had raised slogans in support of a Cabinet Minister and the ruling SAD. He held Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal directly responsible for the declining law and order situation as also the ASI’s murder. He said the Deputy CM, who held the Home portfolio, should resign. “Incidents like these are taking place under the patronage of those running ‘Nanhi Chhan’. Those with daughters are feeling insecure,” he said. The Congress MP alleged that the prime accused in the ASI killing, Ranjeet Singh Rana, was involved in the drug trade.
Malti for judicial probe
Moga: President of the Punjab Mahila Congress Dr Malti Thapar has demanded that the Governor should order a judicial probe into the killing of the ASI. “Everybody in the state is feeling insecure. The women are particularly vulnerable...”
Dr Malti said that the “unwarranted interference” in the working of the police and other departments by various ‘halqa incharge’ nominated by the Akalis had undermined the functioning of the official machinery. Former MLA and senior Congress leader Sathi Vijay Kumar demanded President’s rule in the state. “The SAD-BJP government has failed to protect the life and liberty of the people and its leaders have taken law into their hands,” he said.
