Asking the Congress-led Punjab government to stop vendetta against Shiromani Akali Dal’s (SAD) elected representatives in Dera Bassi constituency at the instance of its Mohali legislator Balbir Sidhu, the Akali Dal on Friday declared that if not done, the party would join hands with agitating women and intensify the social movement launched by them.
“Agitating women had ransacked a liquor shop opened in a residential area adjoining a school and a religious place after being provoked. They damaged the liquor shop in a fit of anger after the administration refused to heed to their demands for removal of the shop despite a sustained dharna,” said former minister and SAD spokesman Daljeet Singh Cheema.
Cheema said that it was unfortunate that a social agitation which had been led and managed by local women of Dera Bassi had been given a political colour by Mohali legislator whose business interests had been hurt.
He said that it was condemnable that the police had also sided with the Congress MlA and used the occasion to indulge in political vendetta. “Draconian cases like attempt to murder and dacoity had been registered against two brothers of Dera Bassi legislator NK Sharma and five SAD councilors,” he added.
Asking the Mohali police to immediately take back the cases against all political persons who had been framed at the instance of the Congress MlA, he also explained that none of the accused were present on the spot at the time of incident.
“If the Mohali police failed to give justice in the matter, SAD would not only join the people's movement against allowing liquor shops close to residential area and places of worship but also launch a separate protest to agitate against repression against SAD cadre,” he added.