Give a message to lawbreakers in Punjab, sack Majithia: Capt to CM

State Congress president Captain Amarinder Singh on Thursday asked Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to sack Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia to convey a strong message that lawlessness will not be tolerated in the state. At the same time, he asked DGP Sumedh Singh Saini to take a clear stand for his police force, as it was getting demoralised with the incidents taking place every day in Punjab.

Addressing a press conference here, Amarinder said that the denial mode of the government notwithstanding, the law and order in the state was worse and warned that such situations were always taken advantage of by the extremist elements.

While saying that Badal was experienced enough to realise the intensity and the seriousness of the situation with the 'Bikram Sena' (Bikram's supporters) going on rampage, Amarinder questioned how an ASI was murdered in Amritsar and an AIG brutally assaulted in Ludhiana by Bikram's men. "It was high time Badal sacked Majithia before he pushes the state towards anarchy," he added.

Referring to Monday night's incident in Ludhiana where AIG S S Mand was "brutally manhandled" by a "close aide" of Bikram Majithia, Amarinder said the government, particularly Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, was still saying that he had not been beaten up but suffered a fracture as he had slipped. "If he had really slipped why did they arrest three people?" he asked.

Warning against demoralising the police force, Amarinder said the DGP must act tough and take a stand for his force. "Dismissing police officers was no solution. The time has come when the police chief must act tough and protect his officers and men lest they get demoralized further. Many police officers called me and said they were fed up of the present regime,'' he claimed.

When asked how can Saini act tough when he himself was facing criminal charges, Amarinder said: "Then he has to take a call whether to protect his force or career.'' Asked whether the Punjab Congress had approached the Centre over the matter, Amarinder said: "Though the law and order is a state subject, still, the Centre and Union Home Ministry were closely monitoring the situation."

... contd.

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