Respect democratic values, don’t perpetrate rule of coercion: Channi

Strongly condemning the tragic incident of Lakhimpur Kheri in Uttar Pradesh, the Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Tuesday said that BJP should respect the democratic ethics and values rather perpetrating the rule of coercion (danda raj) to stifle the voice of people.

Chief Minister accompanied by his Cabinet colleagues, MLAs and party workers staged a silent protest at Gandhi Samark Bhawan here and resolved to fight the injustice.

Equating the barbarous incident of Lakhimpur Kheri with the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, the Chief Minister said that this recent incident was pre-planned to intentionally crush the innocent farmers who were peacefully protesting against the farm laws.

Later talking to the media persons, the Chief Minister slammed the UP government for arresting the national Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi who had planned to meet the victim families at Lakhimpur Kheri to express the solidarity with them in this hour of grief. He said that with such acts, the Congress would emerge far more stronger to eventually oust the BJP government not only in Centre but in other states also.

Earlier, the Chief Minister paid floral tributes at the bust of Mahatma Gandhi and firmly resolved to seek inspiration from the father of the nation to protect the democratic rights. On the occasion, the Chief Minister also joined the dharna staged by the youth Congress workers of Chandigarh.

Prominent amongst others who joined the protest included Cabinet Ministers Manpreet Singh Badal, Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa, Rana Gurjit Singh, Pargat Singh, Sangat Singh Gilzian, Gurkirat Singh Kotli besides several MLAs and party leaders and workers.

Meanwhile, PPCC president Navjot Singh sidhu on Tuesday tweeted, “If, by tomorrow, the Union Minister’s son behind the brutal murder of Farmers is not arrested, and our leader @PriyankaGandhi being unlawfully arrested, fighting for farmers is not released, the Punjab Congress will march towards Lakhimpur Kheri !”

In another tweet Sidhu said, “When in doubt walk the path of truth, never compromise on moral values !! “Moral Authority” thy name is @priyankagandhi.”

In another development, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Tuesday said the central government should not allow any delay in proceeding against the murderers of innocent farmers at Lakhimpur Khiri even as it appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to withdraw the three agriculture laws immediately. The party expressed this resolve after a meeting of its core committee here which was presided over by party President Sukhbir Singh Badal. The SAD president said the central government should repeal the farm laws as quickly as possible keeping in mind the sentiments of the farming community. “This is also needed to contain unrest and ensure no more lives are lost,” Sukhbir added.

AAP’S PUNJAB DELEGATION DETAINED BY UP POLICE ON WAY TO LAKHIMPUR KHERI

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) delegation on its way to Lakhimpur Kheri to offer condolences to the families of the victims, was stopped and detained by the Uttar Pradesh police at Nighasan police check post. According to AAP spokesperson, the delegation, led by AAP Punjab affairs co-in-charge Raghav Chadha and Leader of Opposition Harpal Singh Cheema, included MLAs Kultar Singh Sandhwan, Prof Baljinder Kaur and Amarjit Singh Sandoa; of whom Kultar Singh Sandhwan was deatined immediately after his departure from Lucknow, by Sidhauli police.