Punjab CM Thanks People For Showing Restraint, Regrets Inconvenience Caused During Bharat Bandh
Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Monday thanked the people for showing restraint and maintaining law and order, while congratulating the state’s civil and police administration for ensuring peace and harmony in the state, which witnessed minor sporadic incidents of violence during the Bharat Bandh called by various SC/ST organisations.
The Chief Minister has, however, directed the security forces to continue to remain on alert in view of the volatile situation prevailing in some of the neighbouring states, including Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, which witnessed major incidents of violence during the day.
Captain Amarinder Singh, who personally monitored the situation through the day, said that despite its history of violent protests over Dalit issues, Punjab remained largely peaceful as a result of the security blanket in place as a precautionary measure. The Chief Minister lauded the Police as well as Central Paramilitary forces for showing exceptional restraint in dealing with large groups of highly agitated and surcharged protestors at more than 500 protest points across the state.
Though some incidents of blockade of railway tracks, roads and highways had been reported from certain areas, leading to traffic diversions, the protestors were quickly persuaded to lift the same, the Chief Minister said, lauding the security forces and district officials for acting expeditiously to normalise the situation. He regretted the inconvenience caused to the people due to these sporadic incidents.
According to reports, there were 10 incidents of blockade of railway track, 11 major road blockades involving National/State Highways and 12 incidents of minor road blockades, with about 3-4 incidents of minor injuries to people, including a policeman in civil clothes in Mansa.
Captain Amarinder Singh, meanwhile, assured the SC/ST community of all possible efforts by his government to address their grievances both legally and administratively, while urging them to wait for the Supreme Court to consider and decide on the review petition filed by the central government .
He also assured the people of Punjab that his government would continue to keep tabs on the situation to ensure that the peace and stability of the state is not compromised at any cost.
