Punjab Cong chief discusses Sacha Sauda issue with PM

Chandigarh, June 30 (UNI) Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) President Shamsher Singh Dullo today met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at New Delhi and discussed the deteriorating law and order situation in the state following the Sikh-Dera Sacha Sauda controversy.

Mr Dullo expressed concern of the state Congress party on the role played by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal with respect to the Dera Sacha Sauda controversy. He requested the Prime Minister to direct the Chief Minister to behave like a elected head of state instead of playing the role of "head of a particular sect or community" According to a PPCC release issued here, Mr Dullo told the Prime Minister that the Badal government was working under pressure of the harliners who are bent upon putting the hard earned peace and tranquility of the state on fire. He assured the Prime Minister that Congress party was ready to make sacrifices for the unity and integrity of the country and peace in Punjab.

The PPCC President was accompanied by Pradesh Congress General Secretaries Malkit Singh Dakha ex MLA and Gurbinder Singh Atwal, a former MLA.

Mr Dullo expressed his gratitude to the Prime Minister and the UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi for releasing a hefty amount for the Plan expenditure for the current financial year. He also thanked the Prime Minister for the clearance of Bathinda Refinery.

UNI