AAP burns CM’s effigy to protest attack on leader

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 22

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers burnt an effigy of Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh to protest the attack on its MLA Amarjit Singh Sandoa by “goons” of the sand mafia at the Bhadari bridge on Friday. Party leaders accused the state government of patronising criminal elements.

Meanwhile, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), too, has taken a strong notice of the incident wherein the MLA’s turban was tossed. In a statement issued here, SGPC spokesperson Diljit Singh Bedi said turban was a religious symbol of Sikhs. “If such an incident occurs, Sikhs will have to face various questions across the world,” said Bedi. He also demanded strict action against the culprits. Bedi also expressed concern over rising influence of sand mafia in the state.

While leading the protest, AAP’s Majha zone in-charge Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal termed the incident as the “murder of democracy”. The mafia’s power is growing under the present state government. “Such an incident can’t take place without political support. An inquiry should be conducted to expose the leaders backing the sand mafia,” he said.

Dhaliwal said the government is using its propaganda machinery to full throttle to defame Aam Aadmi Party and its leaders. “But we are committed to take a stand against the wrongdoings of the high and mighty and we will not be mowed down by such incidents,” he said.

Suresh Sharma, party’s urban president said, “An elected councillor was murdered in broad daylight in the city. In another incident, a man and his son were killed. These incidents suggwst that the law and order in the state is getting out of the government’s control.”