Big conspiracy to defame Sikhs and Punjab : Virsa Singh Valtoha
Amritsar, March 21: Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) Senior leader Virsa Singh Valtoha today asked Punjab Government to immediately withdraw National Security Act (NSA) imposed on arrested Sikh youth under ongoing crackdown in the state and innocent Sikh youth should be released immediately.
Addressing a press conference here today, Virsa Singh Valtoha said that it was shocking to see that Punjab Police has registered cases against Sikh youth under NSA on instructions from Punjab Government and have sent them to Central Jail Dibrugarh in Assam. He said that NSA is considered a black law not only in the country but worldwide. He said that imposing NSA in an ordinary law and order situation cannot be termed wise in any manner.
He said that Akali Dal has always advocated that those should be punished under the law who have violated law. He said that guilty of the attack on Ajnala Police station should be dealt with as per law of the land. He said that Punjab Police and courts are capable of doing so.
He said that imposing NSA on instruction from the Centre is unjustified in every manner. He said that it was most unfortunate for Punjab that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was working as a puppet in the hands of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and under their rule Sikh youth are being made targets.
Talking about Bhai Amritpal Singh, Valtoha said that if police had to arrest Amritpal Singh, they could have arrested him from his residence in the morning on that day and there was no need to enact drama in the matter. He said that whatever happened has led to spread of terror and fear in Punjabis. He said that most unfortunate is that the National media is presenting Sikhs and Punjab as anti national. He said that Sikhs have made a significant contribution for the Independence of the country and they need no certificate from anyone. He said that even now Sikhs were ready to make any sacrifice for the nation if the need arises.
Valtoha said that though we can have ideological differences with Bhai Amritpal Singh but the manner in which his name was being used to defame Sikhs as anti national was strongly condemnable and this will not be tolerated at any cost.
He said that Akali Dal has always advocated for peace and communal harmony in the state and this unity and harmony was not at stake. He said that Punjab has already paid a heavy price in the past and the country has also suffered because of it and they should not be thrown in same situation.
He said that we have repeatedly said that whosoever breaks law, he should be dealt with according to law.
Responding to a question on action against the wife of Bhai Amritpal Singh, Akali Dal leader said that daughters and sisters are always respectable and they should not be dragged in these matters whatsoever. He urged Chief Minister and Police officers to desist from dragging her name in the issue.
