Describing as “deplorable in the extreme” the assault on senior Punjab Government officer Kahan Singh Pannu in Uttarakhand, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Tuesday said that the incident was a great disservice to the cause of relief and rehabilitation for which the officers are working at considerable hardship and risk to their own lives.
Badal, in his statement, appealed to everyone to keep their calm and composure in the hour of this grave natural calamity.
“We must fight this battle united, keeping our calm and respecting and helping each other in the task. This is a testing hour and patience and perseverance of the highest order are needed to face this hour.
“Nothing should be done that distracts us from our first duty in battling this national tragedy,” he added.The Chief Minster further said that he had been deeply pained by the incident as the officer engaged in day and night operations to mitigate the sufferings of the victims and ensure relief and safety to those trapped in the calamity.
Badal also expressed surprise that security arrangements for those helping others in fighting against this natural calamity wee so “pathetically inadequate”.
He called upon Uttarakhand Chief Minister to deploy adequate security staff for the rescuers and relief and rehabilitation parties.
Bajwa demands judicial probe
Chandigarh: Strongly condemning the attack on Punjab IAS officer Kahan Singh Pannu by a mob of Sikh youth at Gobind Ghat in Uttrakhand, Punjab Congress president Partap Singh Bajwa on Tuesday demanded judicial probe into the incident. “The incident of assault seems a planned conspiracy. It is ironical that a senior IAS officer who is representing Punjab Government in rescue operations in Uttrakhand was assaulted in the presence of three personal security guards of Punjab Police and other officials,” said Bajwa.He said that the very fact that somebody in the mob videographed the assault on IAS officer and loaded it on You Tube which indicate towards deep rooted conspiracy to humiliate and harass Pannu. “Incident is shameful and blot on the face of SAD-BJP government,” added Bajwa.He said that judicial inquiry should be held to identify the persons involved in physical assault and brought them to book to protect the dignity of services.