Rule of law 'vanished' from Punjab: SAD

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) patron Parkash Singh Badal and president Sukhbir Singh Badal today took asked the Congress government to ensure justice to the common man as well as political opponents in Punjab, alleging rule of law has "vanished" in the state.
Both leaders held separate meetings with the public at the party office here while hearing their grievances.
Akali councillors approached Parkash Singh Badal, the ex-chief minister, in the morning and told him how Congress leaders were "threatening and attacking" them, a release from SAD said.
Kharar leader Ranjit Singh Gill claimed a Congressman Jeeti Padiala allegedly entered the residence of Kurali committee president Krishna Devi and took away councillor Ramakant at gun point.

He said this was done when nine Akali councilors were holding a meeting. He claimed that the councillor was not only beaten but threatened that he would be eliminated if he did not toe the line of the Congress party.
Badal talked to DGP Suresh Arora over the issue and told him that it was unfortunate that such violence was being perpetrated against an elected official, the release said.

It added that a family approached SAD president Sukhbir Badal and claimed that they were not able to get justice in a murder case.
Meanwhile, the former chief minister said the Centre's reported decision to extend concessions to Punjab's neighbouringhill states will hit the state and its economy.

"No one deserves these concessions more than Punjab which has faced four active and bloody wars and is the only part of the country which is situated on a live and hostile border which even the Centre admits continues to be a cause of concern for national security," Badal said here.