‘Find another way of protest’

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 11

Lashing out at the Akalis for indulging in street politics at the cost of people’s welfare, CM Capt Amarinder Singh today called upon all political parties to resolve not to block highways, but to find alternative ways to protest.

In an informal chat with mediapersons, a day after he tweeted his anger at the way the Akali Dal led by Sukhbir Singh Badal had laid a siege to national highways, Amarinder said any form of protest that caused inconvenience to citizens could not be termed “democratic” and blocking national highways was a crime.

The CM warned that nobody would be allowed to break the law in Punjab and anyone doing so would have to face the consequences. His government, said Amarinder, would not allow a law and order breakdown in the state nor would it permit anyone to hold the common people to ransom.

Lakhs of people suffered as a result of the Akali dharnas, which were nothing but sheer theatrics, alleged Amarinder, adding that such acts were a sign of petty minds, which did not see beyond short-term personal gains.

Had the Akalis nursed a genuine grouse on the issue of filing nomination papers for the MC elections, they would have jumped at the opportunity given by the State Election Commission in the form of an extra day to submit the same, the CM said. That not a single nominee filed his or her papers on the additional day nailed Sukhbir’s lie in this regard, he claimed.