SAD-BJP delegation meets Pb gov, seeks dismissal of Congress govt in the state

A joint Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) - Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) delegation met Punjab Governor V P Singh Badnore Tuesday, urging him to dismiss the Congress government for allegedly conspiring with radical elements "hell bent" on dividing the country.

"CM Amarinder Singh has joined hands with those forces and radical elements which are hell bent on disturbing the peace of Punjab and divide the country," SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal said while addressing media here.

Badal accused the state government of trying to push the state into the dark days.

"In Punjab today, the situation has turned to what it was 25 years ago. A bomb blast has taken place in Jalandhar (referring to the blast at the Maqsudan police station). A pro-Khalistan organisation has even taken the responsibility of the blast. Such things had started 25 years ago and later, the state was pushed into dark days," he said.

Sukhbir, former deputy chief minister, sought the immediate dismissal of the state government, alleging that the chief minister had violated the oath of office of maintaining law and order in the state.

Sukhbir also sought a CBI probe to "unmask the conspiracy to destabilise peace and communal harmony" in Punjab.

The delegation, which was led by Badal and BJP state president Shwait Malik, also urged the governor to direct the state government to take strict action against the "self-styled Jathedars" who were "dancing to the tune of anti-national forces and conspiring to push the state back into an era of darkness".

It urged the governor to warn the Congress government against "playing with fire by inciting religious sentiments by supporting and colluding with radical elements".

The delegation requested the governor to direct the Congress-led government not to create a "false religious conflict", saying this would be detrimental to the hard won peace of Punjab.

It also brought to the notice of the governor that the Congress government had "failed" to implement the orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court which had directed it to ensure adequate security for the September 16 SAD 'Jabar Virodh' rally.

It said the vehicles of SAD workers who were returning from the rally were allegedly attacked by Sikh radicals while the police "remained a mute spectators".