Amarinder cautions Badal to desist from creating panic

Fatehgarh Sahib, Dec 25 (UNI) Respomding to Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Parkash Singh Badal's apprehension of a threat to his life in wake of the arms and ammunition seizure from militants, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today assured the senior Akali leader that his life was fully secure and advised him not to issue such ''irresponsible'' statements that created panic in people's mind.

Addressing a mammoth gathering at the 'Shardanjli Samaroh' on the occasion of 302nd martyrdom day of younger Sahibzadas of Guru Gobind Singh, Capt Singh claimed Mr Badal was deliberately making such statements out of frustration as the Akalis had smelt their defeat in the ensuing assembly elections.

The chief minister said that the forthcoming elections in the state would be held in a peaceful and transparent manner and nobody would be allowed to disrupt peace in the state. He asked the people to introspect what Mr Badal had done for the state's development and the Sikh community as a Chief Minister for three terms.

Launching a frontal attack on Mr Badal, Capt Singh said that everybody knew how Mr Badal built up his vast empire by arm-twisting the common man. ''One day he (Badal) will have to account for every single penny looted from them in the court of God,'' Capt Singh said.

The chief minister categorically said that he was confident that Mr Badal would be finally punished for his misdeeds as the Supreme Court had recently allowed prosecution against him. He vehemently said that Mr Badal was accountable for corruption in the petty matters like postings and transfers during the last Akali-BJP regime. Ruling out the possibility of any sort of personal enmity with Mr Badal, Capt Singh said that weeding out corruption from the state administration and nabbing the guilty of this malady had been part of the Congress manifesto during the assembly election 2002.

''Whatever we have done is the implementation of one of our poll promises and Badal should not misconstrue the fact to gain cheap popularity,'' he said.

Capt Singh stated that Punjab had progressed under the present Congress regime as the industrialists, farmers, employees and other sections of society were satisfied and looking forward to a new ray of hope.

UNI XC PS VD VV1908