Congress warms up to Bains brothers, flays police action
Wednesday, 11/05/2016
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LUDHIANA: Warming up to Bains brothers, senior Congress leader Sunil Jakhar was in the city on Tuesday to express solidarity, a day after police resorted to cane charge on protesters led by them.
Independent MLAs Simarjit Bains from Atam Nagar and his brother Balwinder Bains from Ludhiana (south) constituencies had on Monday organised a protest against a cable network that turned violent and police canecharged the protesters.
Jakhar, MLA Bharat Bhushan Ashu and district party chief Gurpreet Gogi also went to Koomkalan police station to meet Simarjit, but they were not allowed to meet him. “The state government is brutally crushing voices of dissent. The SAD-BJP government doesn’t mind using force against even the elected representatives,” said Jakhar.
He said the way police handled the situation on Monday was appalling. “There seems to be an undeclared emergency as people are being beaten up and thrown into jails if they raise their voice against injustice,” Jakhar said.
Bains brothers have been organising protests against illegal mining and alleged corruption in government departments.
Both of them have been arrested at least five times in the past one year for one reason or the other. On Monday, nine sections of the penal code were slapped against those arrested on Monday, including Simarjit.
When asked whether Congress was sending feelers to the brothers to join the party, Jakhar said such decisions are taken by the high command.
