Quit if you can’t curb crime: Congress to Punjab CM at Bathinda march

The Congress on Tuesday targeted the AAP government over the “rising” crime in the state, asking CM Bhagwant Mann to step down if he can’t control the situation.

The party also expressed apprehensions of the imposition of the President’s rule in the state, questioning intentions of the AAP government and the BJP-led Centre.

The Congress leaders made the allegations at the party’s Jago Sarkar Jago protest march in Bathinda and a rally in the neighbouring Mansa.

At the protest march, which followed the Mansa rally, state Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring asked if the Centre was waiting for the law and order to worsen to impose the President’s rule.

“I have doubts about (intentions of) both the Centre and the state government,” he said at the march, which started from Fire Brigade Chowk and concluded at Dhobi Bazar in Bathinda.

Led by All-India Congress Committee general secretary and incharge for Punjab Bhupesh Baghel, Congress workers held placards carrying photographs of people killed by gangsters recently, including Abohar businessman Sanjay Verma.

Warring said bomb threats were being issued regularly to schools and hospitals.

“Punjab is heading towards dark days again,” he added.

Baghel asked the Chief Minister to resign if he was unable to check the situation. “This government does not deserve to remain in power,” he added.

The Congress leaders appealed to traders, farmers, labourers and employees to strengthen the party, claiming that only it could restore peace and communal harmony in the state.