Lack of governance responsible for unrest in Punjab: Congress

CM Badal had earlier convened an emergency cabinet meeting on October 20 as the protests showed no sign of stopping

The Congress Party on Thursday criticised Prakash Singh Badal's government in Punjab for the state of unrest because of the ongoing protests against the alleged desecration of the Sikh holy scripture, the Guru Granth Sahib, saying that lack of governance has led to such a situation.

"It is very unfortunate. People are already going to tough times...All promises made during the elections have come to not. The last nine years have been miserable for the people of Punjab," Congress leader Ambika Soni told ANI.

"When the general impression goes that there is no governance, nobody is accountable, nobody can call the shots being in the bureaucracy or police then anti-social elements do come and create mischief. That is whose fault, the governments," she added.

The angry protesters have been demanding the arrest of people behind disrespect the holy book and the policemen, who had been involved in the firing on a mob in Faridkot that killed two persons last week.

Badal had earlier convened an emergency cabinet meeting on October 20 as the protests showed no sign of stopping.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had also spoken to Badal and assured him all possible help from the Centre to defuse the tension prevailing in the state.

The Home Minister later briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the situation in Punjab.