The attack on Abohar lawmaker Arun Narang in Malout on Saturday sparked strong reactions across the board and Punjab CM warned of strict action against those who take the law into their hands. While the BJP called it a murderous attack on its MLA and blamed the Amarinder government for the breach of law and order, the ruling Congress in Punjab and Shiromani Akali (SAD) strongly condemned the incident.
Amarinder promises strict action
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said his government will crack down on anyone who tries to disturb the state’s peace by taking the law into their own hands.
Amarinder ordered DGP Dinkar Gupta to take strict measures, in accordance with the law, against the perpetrators, who also clashed with police personnel who tried to rescue the MLA.
Even when urging farmers not to indulge in such acts of violence, the Chief Minister appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to urgently resolve the crisis caused by escalating disputes over agricultural laws.
A statement from the CM said that Gurmail Singh (PPS), SP headquarters, Faridkot, was injured while trying to save and evacuate the MLA from the protesting crowd. He also suffered a lathi blow to the head, causing his turban to fall off, and he was admitted to the Civil Hospital, Malout, where the incident occurred, adds the CM statement.
According to the statement, with simmering tensions between the Center and farmers, a series of incidents of protests against BJP leaders were reported in different parts of Punjab on Saturday.
The Chief Minister said that barring the assault on the BJP MLA from Abohar, other BJP leaders were safely evacuated from the protest sites. He said that while protesting is a democratic right of farmers, violence of any kind would not be tolerated and the situation of law and order in the state would not be allowed.
Seeking the prime minister’s immediate intervention to resolve tensions, Amarinder said any further delay by the central government would trigger further unrest among agitated farmers. Coupled with the growing threat from across the border from Pakistan-backed terror groups, who were already trying to exploit the situation, this could pose a serious threat to the security of the Punjab and consequently the entire nation, he warned.
The farmers, he noted, had been on the roads for 4 months and, with no sign that the central government was willing to step back, anger among farmers was building.
In response to the demand by Punjab BJP leaders for their resignation over the issue, the Chief Minister said that instead of trying to profit politically from the Malout incident, they should pressure their central leadership to withdraw the controversial legislation.
Sorry incident, but responsible BJP: SKM
The Sanyukta Kisan Morcha, a coordinating body of farmers’ unions leading the agitation against the central farm laws, also condemned the incident, but held the central leadership of the BJP accountable.
SKM coordinator Dr. Darshan Pal said: “BJP leaders and their allies have been inciting farmers with their rhetorical statements against farmers. Even the martyred farmers were insulted by some leaders. For all this and in the context of opposition to the agricultural laws, the farmers have been socially boycotting the leaders of the BJP and their allies ”.
A statement issued by Dr. Darshan Pal on behalf of the SKM read: “On Saturday, farmers protested against Abohar’s BJP MLA in Punjab. This agitation of the farmers, in adverse circumstances, turned violent and the MLA was physically attacked. It is regrettable that an elected representative has been treated in this way. We do not encourage such behavior. We strongly condemn this act. We believe that the BJP and its allies are responsible for this incident. The central leadership of the BJP is rooted in their ego and instead of solving the problems of the farmers, they are busy in elections, but the local leaders are facing the bitter results of this behavior from the central government.
He added: “SKM calls on all protesters to remain peaceful and disciplined. The farmers movement is now spreading from the borders of Delhi to all corners of the country. This historic movement of farmers will surely triumph on this path of non-violence ”.
Sad day in Punjab history: BJP
BJP State Chairman Ashwani Sharma called MLA Arun Narang’s mistreatment “a sad day” in the state’s history, saying that the Punjab government has failed to protect law and order.
“I am horrified by the deterioration of the security situation in the state … There has never been such a shameful incident in the political history of the country,” he said, adding that political parties in a democratic environment have every right to protest. and condemn, but there is a “code of decency”. “The police could not protect their elected MLA, what would a common man be subjected to if the mafia takes control?” he said. Calling for the resignation of CM Amarinder Singh, he said: “No Punjabi farmer can stoop to this level of indecency. It is the goonda element that is being used by the Congress party to intimidate and harass the innocent ”.
BJP National Secretary General Tarun Chugh also criticized the Amarinder Singh-led government for the incident, claiming that it has “exposed the total collapse of law and order in the state.” Describing the incident as a “murderous attack” on Narang, he accused the ruling Congress of manipulating him.
Amarinder Singh was “instigating such attacks to stifle the voice of the BJP,” Chugh alleged and demanded that the prime minister resign.
In Delhi, BJP Secretary General Arun Singh condemned the mistreatment of the legislator as extremely barbaric and painful.
“The BJP condemns this incident which occurred under the protection of the congressional government. Amarinder Singh’s congressional government is directly responsible for this, ”the party said in the statement.
Unfortunate attack, says Sunil Jakhar
The head of PPCC, Sunil Jakhar, also strongly condemned the attack on the BJP saying that such illegal behavior has no place in a democracy. He said that farmers’ protests will be weakened by incidents like these.
Jakhar, while calling the attack very unfortunate, said that everyone should be able to present their views and that all citizens should respect each other’s right to speak. He also said that farmers’ protests are moving in the right direction to achieve their goals, but events like these will hamper their progress. He called on all farmers to refrain from illegal actions like these, as no one can be allowed to take law and order into their own hands.
Ensuring peaceful protests: SAD chief
In reaction to the assault on the BJP legislator in Malout, SAD President Sukhbir Badal called on everyone to act with restraint to ensure that the state’s communal peace and harmony is not disturbed. He called on both the Center and the Punjab government to take steps to alleviate the tense situation that had developed in the state due to the Center’s refusal to listen to farmers’ feelings.
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