Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Friday said that it was condemnable that businessmen were leaving Punjab because of the failure of law and order machinery to secure their life and property.
“The recent migration of a Jaitu family in Faridkot has revealed the precarious law and order situation in Punjab. The entire family of rice mill owner Ravinder Kochhar, who was gunned down by gangsters in July this year, had migrated abroad after selling their property,” said SAD spokesperson Parambans Singh Romana.
He said: “The family left their home and hearth after realizing that they were also not secure as the State police failed to apprehend the gangsters.” Stating that a fear psychosis had entered the minds of people, particularly businessmen who were being subject to extortion as had happened with Ravinder Kochhar, the Akali leader said that this was a direct result of the open encouragement given to goonda elements by the Congress government.
“Immediately after coming to power, the Congress party gave a free rein to its workers to persecute Akalis, many of whom were injured grievously and even murdered. This, in turn, bolstered gangsters and resulted in an increase in extortions, dacoities and inter-gang warfare,” he said.
Romana added that the situation was further exacerbated by the visit of Uttar Pradesh gangster Raja Bhaiya to Faridkot who was hosted by local Congress legislator Kushaldeep Dhillon who even boasted about the same on his Facebook page.