Over 24-hour long 'dharna' lifted by SAD

Opposition SAD today called off its 'dharnas' at various places in Punjab after the Congress government in the state agreed to accept their demands, including withdrawal of "false" cases against its leaders and workers.
Road blockades put up by the party at several key state and national highways during the 'dharnas' hit traffic, leaving several commuters and commercial vehicles stranded during the over 24-hour-long protest.
The protests led by SAD leaders affected vehicular movement on the Ferozepur-Ludhiana, Amritsar-Bathinda, Bathinda-Mansa, Chandigarh-Mansa, Jalandhar-Amritsar and Kharar-Chandigarh roads.
SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal and other senior Akali leaders, including Bikram Singh Majithia, spent last night at Manawal on the Harike-Patan road in Ferozepur, pressing the state government to accept their demands.

They were protesting against registration of "false" cases against SAD leaders and workers at the alleged instance of the Congress government.
The SAD also raised the issue of "non-cancellation" of the election process at four places -- Manawala, Makhu, Baghapurana and Ghanaur -- where Akali workers were not allowed to file their nomination papers.

Badal called off the 'dharnas' this evening.
DIG, Ferozepur Range, Rajinder Singh met the SAD president in Ferozepur and assured him that the issues raised by the party will be addressed.
He said that the government had decided to withdraw attempt to murder charges against 12 leaders and 90 workers in the Manawala case.

Simultaneously, a case has been registered against Congress workers in the case. Five were also arrested, he said, adding that the station house officer and deputy superintendent of police concerned, have been transferred .
The SAD president apologised to people for the inconvenience caused to them, saying the party had to take the step as it had "failed" to get justice.
"The SAD is known for its fight for peoples' causes. We were in the forefront in the fight against the Emergency. Even now we held dharnas to safeguard the fundamental rights of people as well as ensure the rule of law was respected," he said.

"We are proud we achieved this objective but regret the inconvenience caused to people even though special efforts were made to ensure the old, school children were not inconvenienced," Badal said.