leader of Opposition in Punjab Vidhan Sabha Sunil Kumar Jakhar on Tuesday regretted that that the Punjab Government was not concerned about the children who are painfully waiting for the release of their mothers, arrested only for seeking payment of their salary for the past 13 months during a peaceful protest at Bathinda on May 1.
Jakhar has urged the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to order release of 148 teachers, including 40 women, from Faridkot jail and “immediately withdraw false cases against them”.
“It is shameful that the SAD leaders demand release of dreaded terrorists who are convicted for triggering bomb blasts and gunning down innocent people on humanitarian grounds, but has locked justice-seeking innocent CSS, RMSA and SSA teachers in the jails to shut their mouth,” he lashed out at Akali Dal.
Even when the Apex Court and High Court of Punjab and Haryana had snubbed the Punjab government for atrocities on women in Tarn Taran, Patiala, Amritsar, etc, there has been no change in its callous attitude, he stated.
Jakhar said that the SAD top brass and their ruling partner, BJP, have been shedding crocodile tears only while assuring that women would remain safe in Punjab.
“The arrest of 40 female teachers, most of them recently married, is a black blot on the face of the State Government. All the teachers should be released immediately, cases against them be withdrawn, salary dues be released and they must be absorbed permanently in the Education Department,” demanded Jakhar.