Senior Congress leader and Amritsar MP Capt Amarinder Singh on Monday sought the resignation of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal while blaming his Government for the desecration of Guru Granth Sahib “birs” and the violent incidents in its aftermath.
Holding Badal responsible for “total collapse” of law and order situation in Punjab, Amritsar MP demanded “immediate eradication” of the Shiromani Akali Dal-led Government and called for imposition of President’s Rule in the State.
“Badal should step down immediately and the Governor rule should be imposed in the State without any delay. The SAD-BJP Government is responsible for vitiating the atmosphere of the State,” said Capt Amarinder while talking to mediapersons after paying obeisance at the Golden Temple.
Capt Amarinder also demanded that the cops involved in the firing incident in Faridkot district, which claimed the lives of two Sikh youths, should be dismissed and a case be registered against them.
The former Chief Minister paid obeisance at Darbar Sahib and Durgiana Mandir to “pray for restoration of peace” in Punjab as protests continued in various parts of the state against the alleged sacrilege of Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
He said that nobody can be allowed to fiddle with the supreme authority of the Akal Takht and any such attempt will be strongly defeated.
Capt Amarinder said that he had, like every common man, come to the shrine with “great hope, expectation and prayers for peace and harmony” and was confident that “these will be granted at this holiest of the holy places”.
The Congress leader strongly disapproved of the brandishing of naked swords by some youths while blocking roads, saying that holding protest is a democratic right but must be done in a peaceful manner.
Accompanied by his wife Preneet Kaur, Congress legislative Party leader Sunil Jakhar and other 20 MlAs and leaders, Capt Amarinder Singh drove straight to Darbar Sahib from the airport where he paid obeisance in front of Akal Takht Sahib.
Subsequently, he with other Congress legislators and leaders went to Durgiana Mandir, where they performed puja for the peace and welfare of the State.
Regarding resignation of Congress MlA from Khadoor Sahib, Ramanjit Singh Sikki, he said that it was his decision while ruling out any more resignations from the Congress camp.
“Why should we resignIJ It is the Badals and his men who should put in their papers,” he said. On the forthcoming SGPC elections, Capt Amarinder said that though the Congress will not contest it, they will certainly oppose the candidates of the ruling Akali Dal.