Cong, AAP corner Badal on ‘complicity of highest level’

Monday, 28/11/2016

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Chandigarh/Sangrur : Congress leader Amarinder Singh said the incident had triggered fears of revival of terror ahead of polls, while AAP’s Sanjay Singh demanded the resignation of deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal. CHANDIGARH/SANGRUR: The Nabha jailbreak has given the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) enough ammunition to corner the ruling Akali-BJP government ahead of the high-stake assembly in Punjab.

Alleging involvement of the Parkash Singh Badal government in the jailbreak, Punjab Congress chief Captain Amarinder Singh said the incident had exposed a “complete breakdown” of law and order in the state, while triggering fears of revival of terrorism ahead of the assembly elections.

“The manner in which gangsters walked into the high-security jail and freed a Khalistani terrorist along with other convicts shows complicity of the highest level,” Amarinder said in a statement.

Reiterating his fears of terror attacks and other violent incidents in the state ahead of the polls, Amarinder said the rescue of Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) chief Harminder Singh Mintoo, accused in 10 terror-related cases, suggested an “active effort” from across the border to revive terrorism in Punjab.

Meanwhile, AAP national spokesman and Punjab in-charge Sanjay Singh has demanded deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, who is also the state home minister, and jails minister Sohan Singh Thandal’s resignation.

“By claiming that the Nabha jailbreak was the handiwork of Pakistan, deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal has once again exposed himself to his irresponsible behaviour,” the AAP leader said, adding that if it is true, Union home minister Rajnath Singh should also quit for failing to protect the international border.

Party’s Punjab convener Gurpreet Singh Waraich said this was not the first time when Sukhbir has blamed Pakistan for all ills in Punjab

‘AMARINDER PLAYING INTO HANDS OF ANTI-NATIONALS’

Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on Sunday accused Capt Amarinder Singh of playing into the hands of antinational forces by making “wild and malicious allegations” against the SAD-BJP government, instead of rallying with it to corner and confront such forces.

“They know a special team has been constituted, both at the police and civil level, to get to the bottom of this conspiracy. The senior most jail official has been suspended while Nabha jail officials have been dismissed,” he said.