Manish Tewari warns against criminalization of politics in Punjab

Saturday, 18/05/2013

http://punjabnewsline.com/news/Manish-Tewari-warns-against-criminalization-of-politics-in-Punjab.html

LUDHIANA: Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Manish Tewari today warned against the criminalization of politics in Punjab. He said, the violence unleashed by the Akalis in Punjab during the past few days in the course of the electioneering for Zila Parishad and Block Samiti elections was quite unprecedented and does not portend well for the state.

Addressing a series of public meetings in support of the party candidates contesting Zila Parishad and Block Samiti elections in the Dakha assembly segment here today, Tewari condemned the Rampura Phul incident on Thursday where one person was killed and the another incident near Amritsar today where two persons lost their lives.

The Minister pointed out, the elections are fought with ballots and not the bullets. “But unfortunately the recent elections have shown us that the Akalis are taking a dangerous course of armed confrontationleading to loss of precious lives”, he regretted while warning that the situation might spiral out of control and when the violence spreads it does not spare anyone.

He said, it was high time that the powers that be in Punjab took serious note of the situation. “There must be a clear and unambiguous message that violence cannot be tolerated and the culprits must bebrought to the book”, he said, while adding, this is a test for the conscience and the credibility of the government. “If the culprits are not brought to the book immediately, it will only reinforce the publicbelief that it is the Akalis supported by the government who are unleashing violence on their political opponents after failing to face them politically”, he asserted.

Tewari, who is the first MP from Ludhiana to become a minister in the central government since country’s independence, said, Punjab was never known for violence during the elections. The confrontations werejust political and not personal and that too, to the extent to kill the opponents was quite unheard of. “I am afraid they are pushing Punjab into anarchy and lawlessness”, he warned.

The Minister said, those who have confidence and faith in the democratic process and in their supporters can never resort to such violent acts aimed at intimidating and arm-twisting their opponents.

This is a sign of frustration and defeat which the Akalis are betraying by resorting to violence, he said, in a scathing attack on the ruling party while addressing a largely attended public meeting at village Latala in the Dakha assembly segment. Tewari was accompanied by former MLA and incharge of Dakha assemblysegment Jassi Khangura, former minister Milkiat Singh Dakha, District Congress president Pawan Dewan and others.