CHANDIGARH: The Shiromani Akali Dal today expressed deep concern over the violent clashes in Patiala and appealed to the people of Punjab to maintain peace and communal harmony at all costs and asked the Chief Minister Mr. Bhagwant Mann to fulfill his responsibility and restore law and order in the state.
Expressing surprise at the failure of the Aam Aadmi Party government to take timely steps to stop the violent clashes in Patiala, senior Akali Dal leader Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema said that this was a clear example of law and order collapse.
He said that Aam Aadmi Party government had not taken timely steps despite warnings. He said that instead of fixing his house, his spokespersons were now blaming the opposition. Its Rajya Sabha member Raghav Chadha has shamelessly said that it was a clash between Akali Dal and Shiv Sena.
Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema said that this was the first time that such a communal clash had taken place in the state. He said that Punjabis have always maintained communal harmony even in the most difficult of times.
He said that the situation could have been further aggravated by the complete collapse of the administrative structure. He said that law and order situation had been deteriorating for the last one month but no steps had been taken to rectify it. He said that it was only fitting that the Chief Minister should wake up from his deep sleep.
The Akali leader also asked the Chief Minister to convene an immediate meeting of the peace committee in Patiala so that such incidents could not happen again.