Taking strong note of the clashes between two religious factions in Patiala, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday ordered an immediate inquiry into the incident while directing the police top brass that none of the culprits responsible for this unfortunate incident should be spared.

Mann, chairing a high level meeting with the senior officers of state administration including the Chief Secretary Anirudh Tewari, Additional Chief Secretary to CM A Venu Prasad, the state Director General of Police (DGP) VK Bhawra, at Chief Minister’s Residence in the evening to review the law and order situation in Patiala following the violent clashes, directed the state police chief to keep a close tab over the current situation and constantly update him.

Notably, a major clash erupted in Patiala on Friday afternoon after the members of Shiv Sena’s Punjab unit was holding an anti-Khalistan protest, under the supervision of its working president Harish Singla but “without permission”. Following this, the pro-Khalistani groups arrived at the site, Kali Mata Temple, with weapons to attack Shiv-Sena workers.

The two groups resorted to stone pelting, brandishing swords as the police had to open fire in the air to disperse the groups. Four persons, including a policeman, have been injured in the incident.

“The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Government is firmly committed to maintaining law and order situation in the State and no one would be allowed to disturb the hard earned peace at any cost,” Mann said unequivocally. He, however, said that due to constant vigil of the state police force, Punjab is still one of the most peaceful states across the country.

Mann categorically said that the law and order was the prime concern of the state and anybody, whosoever influential may be, would not be allowed to take law into his own hands and dealt with severely as per the law of the land.

Pointing out further, he said: “Though Punjab being a border state is highly vulnerable as it is being considered a soft target by the inimical forces who want to disturb the peace of the state for their vested interests, the nefarious designs of such forces have been crushed time and again due to the State Government’s strict vigil.”

Reiterating that the State Government had always worked tirelessly for maintaining the communal harmony, peace and brotherhood in the state, Mann, exuberating confidence, said that Punjab’s social fabric would not be allowed to disturb and such anti-national forces would be crushed with heavy hand thus upholding the country’s integrity and sovereignty.

Earlier expressing deep anguish over the “shocking” incident, the Chief Minister called upon the people to extend fulsome support and cooperation to the police and civil authorities by exercising restraint in this hour of crisis.

He categorically said that no one would be allowed to disturb the hard earned peace and communal harmony in the state.

“The incident of clashes in Patiala is deeply unfortunate. I spoke with the DGP, peace has been restored in the area. We are closely monitoring the situation and will not let anyone create disturbance in the State. Punjab’s peace and harmony is of utmost importance,” he tweeted.

Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) Punjab unit has slammed the opposition parties blaming the traditional political parties — Congress, SAD, BJP, and Shiv Sena — for trying to disturb the communal harmony in Punjab. “These parties, along with some anti-social elements, are trying to divert Mann Government from their pro-people decisions and actions against mafias,” said AAP’s Punjab chief spokesperson Malwinder Singh Kang.

Kang said that the Bhagwant Mann led Punjab Government is constantly taking pro-people decisions and at the same time, taking actions against mafias like the one in the case of land mafia a day before. “But, other political parties like Congress, Akali, BJP, and Shiv Sena, who had done nothing for the people of Punjab for 75 years, are unable to digest that a CM who came from a common family taking decisions of public welfare every day. That’s why to divert government from this course of action, they’re patronising anti-social elements to hurt the brotherhood and communal peace of the state,” he said.

HOW IT STARTED

Shiv Sena leader Harish Singla, who gave a call for anti-Khalistan protest march, said the march was announced around 15 days ago after Gurpatwant Singh Pannun of the banned outfit Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) gave a call to observe “Khalistan Sthapna Diwas” (Khalistan foundation day) at district police offices in Haryana. Following this, Singla gave a call to hold a march in Patiala, however, the district administration denied them the permission. On Friday, the members of Shiv Sena gathered at Kali Mata Temple to hold the protest, and started raising anti-Khalistan slogans.

The police was deployed in heavy numbers at Arya Samaj a kilometer away, where Sena members were holding the protest, to prevent a direct face-off between the two sides. The Sikh activists and Nihangs first gathered at Dukh Niwaran Sahib Gurdwara to counter the Shiv Sena’s protest, and started marching towards the temple raising pro-Khalistan slogans. There were reports of stone-pelting by the Sikh activists as well as Hindu leaders present inside the temple, the gates of which were locked to prevent the Sikh protesters from entering. “The police had to open fire in the air given the situation and the same was done after prior approval from the Duty Magistrate who was present at the spot,” said the Inspector-General of Police, Patiala Range, Rajesh Agrawal.

PUNJAB SHIV SENA EXPELS SINGLA FOR GIVING CALL FOR ANTI-KHALISTAN MARCH

Shiv Sena’s Punjab unit on Friday expelled a leader who gave a call for an anti-Khalistan march in Patiala. Sena’s Punjab unit chief Yograj Sharma, in a press release, said that Harish Singla, who claims to be the working president of the Shiv Sena (Bal Thackerey), had been expelled for “anti-party activities” after orders from party supremo Uddhav Thackeray, youth wing chief Aditya Thackeray and national secretary Anil Desai.

Sharma maintained that Singla was the party’s state vice-president and not working president, as claimed by him. He made it clear that the party had beforehand clarified to the Patiala police that the Shiv Sena had nothing to do with the call given by Harish Singla and that it was his personal programme and not that of the party.

BOX: Expelled Shiv Sena leader arrested 

Punjab police have arrested the ‘expelled’ Shiv Sena leader Harish Singla on Friday in the Patiala clashes incident. Singla, who was earlier expelled from the Shiv Sena for "anti-party activities' ', was arrested after a high-level meeting was chaired by the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, issuing directions to not to spare anyone responsible for the unfortunate incident.  Notably, Singla, who himself claimed to be the Shiv Sena (Bal Thackrey’s) working president, had given a call to carry out an anti-Khalistan protest march.