People apprehensive of Punjab again slipping into dark era : Warring

Expresses doubts about Punjab Police May 31 deadline to finish drugs

Says, raising of ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ slogans unacceptable

Samvidhan Bachao rally in Sangrur on May 11

Chandigarh 28 April ( Ranjeet Singh Dhaliwal ) : Punjab Congress Committee president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring today expressed grave apprehensions about the security situation prevailing in Punjab. He said, people are apprehensive that Punjab might slip back into the dark era of terror after regular grenade attacks on police posts and other places. Addressing a press conference at the Congress Bhawan here today, the PCC president also expressed strong doubts over the Punjab Police deadline of finishing the drugs from state by May 31. Replying to a question about the reported seizure of 4.5 kgs of RDX in Amritsar, he said, the situation was of serious concern. He said, old timers recall that terrorism in Punjab started in the same way with grenade attacks here and there till the situation turned out of control. He hoped that the Punjab government was seized of the matter and was taking it seriously. The PCC president said, there have been regular reports of drugs and weapons being smuggled into Punjab. He pointed out, while the media reports about these things regularly, but when the Congress leaders raise questions, the government slaps FIRs. Warring said, both the central and the state governments were responsible for ensuring peace, safety and security of people in Punjab. He demanded that people living in border areas must be properly and adequately compensated in case they are needed to be evicted, in case the situation demands so. He reiterated the party’s stand that it stood by the government in whatever action it deemed fit to give a befitting reply to Pakistan over the terror attack in Pahalgam. Replying to a question on Punjab DGP’s May 31 deadline to finish drugs from Punjab, he said, although he had doubts about it, he still hoped and wished that the Punjab Police succeeded in it. He pointed out similar claims were made earlier by the Aam Aadmi Party supremo Arvind Kejriwal and the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann without any results on the ground. To a question about Punjab farmer unions having put a condition with the government of India that they will not attend the meeting in case there were any Punjab government representatives, Warring said, farmers’ anger and lack of trust in the state government was natural. He pointed out how the Punjab government had brutally evicted farmers from the protest sites. At the same time, he added, the Congress party did not have many expectations from the central government either, as it was only delaying the matter. Replying to another question about an FIR registered in Ludhiana over the alleged raising of ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ slogan there, Warring said, this was unacceptable and those responsible must be brought to book. The PCC president also announced that the ‘Samvidhan Bachao’ rally, which was earlier scheduled on May 4, will now be held on May 11 at Sangrur. It will be attended by senior leadership from the AICC, including general secretary Bhupesh Bhagel, secretary Ravinder Dalvi and the PCC leadership.