Ahead of the February 4 Assembly polls in Punjab, a blame game has begun among major political parties over the issue of issuing statements which incites violence.
A day after Akali MP and Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal warned Aam Aadmi party workers against inciting violence following the throwing of shoe at chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, Punjab Congress and Aam Aadmi Party condemned her statement and urged the Election Commission to take serious note of such statements.
Punjab Congress president Captain Amarinder Singh warned the SAD as well as the AAP against inciting violence, saying any such move would not only backfire on them but would also cause irrevocable damage to the state.
Urging restraint in the run-up to the assembly polls, Captain Amarinder also urged the EC to take serious note of such statements and initiate stern action to crack down on all disruptive elements to prevent the Punjab elections from spiraling into a vortex of violence. Both SAD and AAP have been engaged in violent skirmishes over the past few days, triggering apprehension of escalation and spread of violence in the state as the Assembly polls draw closer, he alleged.
Harsimrat had on Wednesday warned the AAP saying if Badal told SAD workers to turn violent, AAP supporters will not stay alive. The Chief Minister’s daughter-in-law, Harsimrat had made the statement after a shoe was hurled at Parkash Singh Badal at an event in lambi.
On the other hand, Aam Aadmi Party has demanded removal of Union Minister Harsimrat from the cabinet and registration of case against her under section 506 of IPC and relevant sections of Peoples Representatives Act for inciting violence in the poll bound Punjab and also for targeting AAP volunteers.
AAP leaders HS Phoolka, party candidate from Dakha and Navkiran Singh, Chairman of Human Rights Wing said, “They don’t indulge in any kind of violence nor support such act and neither they are scared of the threats, Harsimrat is issuing. Her statement reflected fear and frustration of imminent defeat in the elections.”
AAP leaders have submitted a complaint and copy of video of Harsimrat to the EC and demanded to recommend to Prime Minister to immediately remove her from cabinet.