Congress men to burn 'chitta' Raavan in all Punjab assembly segments

In a bid to maintain the pressure on the Punjab government on the issue of the drug menace, the opposition Congress on Friday said its supporters will burn effigies of 'chitta' Raavan in all 117 assembly segments.

Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh said the move was aimed at highlighting the failure of the Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP government led by Parkash Singh Badal to curb the menace in the state.

"We have declared a war against the government over its failure to transfer the Ludhiana Police Commissioner in the 'chitta' Raavan case. We have asked party workers in all 117 assembly segments to burn such effigies to protest," Amarinder said here.

Congress leaders, including its MPs and legislators, have been protesting against the Punjab government and state police outside the Chief Minister's official residence here since Thursday afternoon. The protest had continued through the night also.

They are demanding action against senior police officers in Ludhiana who failed to avert a clash between Congress and Akali supporters on Monday over the burning of an effigy of 'chitta' (colloqial term for drugs in Punjab) Raavan but later booked Congress leaders.

They accused the Punjab Police of high-handedness.

"It is an irony that the culprits are walking free and the victims have been put behind bars," the former Chief Minister and sitting Amritsar MP said.

Badal had ordered Director General of Police Suresh Arora to probe the violent clash on Dussehra eve in Ludhiana.

"We will actually destroy the 'chitta' and its Raavan in their entirety in the state," Amarinder said.

Wondering why the Akalis were so touchy about the 'chitta' Raavan issue, the Congress leader said: "Is it your guilty conscience that gets pricked and causes you to get goosebumps over the very mention of 'chitta'?"

--IANS

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