CHANDIGARH, January 3: Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President Capt Amarinder Singh today expressed grave concern over the sectarian violence in Bhiki village of Mansa district and appealed for peace and harmony among all sections of the society. He condemned the Akali-BJP government in the state for its deliberate failure to visualize the situation that led to Sunday’s violence.
In a statement, Capt Amarinder Singh also asked the police to handle the situation with utmost care. Referring to the media reports that police even resorted to damaging vehicles and tractors of protestors, the former Chief Minister said, it was quite unfortunate that the police was behaving no better than the rioters.
Maintaining that in a democratic society everybody was entitled to his faith and religious belief, he said, at the same time any disrespect to others’ beliefs cannot be accepted.
Capt Amarinder Singh criticized the Akali-BJP government for its failure to foresee the situation and take preventive and precautionary measures in advance. He pointed out, tension was brewing up in the area for last few days and the administration remained inert and indifferent.
“It is more than clear that the government first let the situation go out of control to create fear among people and then resort to panic and overreaction”, he observed while adding, the violence seems to have been orchestrated under a perfect plan.
The former Chief Minister warned against such tendencies saying the Akali-BJP government seems to be looking for short term gains by creating wedge between people while risking the long term peace and future of Punjab. “This is not only condemnable but unacceptable”, he warned.