Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday said that the Aam Aadmi government is duty bound to preserve the hard earned peace and communal harmony in the state.
“Law is taking its own course in the case of Amritpal Singh, who was a stooge in hands of the forces inimical to the state and country, and no action is being taken against the innocents”, said the Chief Minister in a statement issued here today.
He said that the state could have arrested Amritpal only on March 18th but they never wanted any bloodshed and today the separatist leader has been arrested without firing a single bullet. He said that this was a deep rooted conspiracy to disturb the peace, amity and brotherhood in the state but the state government has foiled it by arresting all the key players. Bhagwant Mann said that the self proclaimed religious leader Amritpal Singh, ran an organization which provoked youth to take arms and indulge in illegal activities against the country, has been arrested.
CM said that he knew about the operation to nab the fugitive since Saturday evening adding that he had a sleepless night as he took the update after every 15 minutes from the officers. Bhagwant Mann said that when Amritpal had attacked Ajnala Police station by taking shield of Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji, he had directed the Police to ensure that no disrespect of Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji takes place. He said that Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji is supreme for them due to which the Police gave due respect to the vehicle carrying it and allowed its free movement.
He said that though during that incident some Police officers were injured but it was ensured that supremacy of Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji was ensured. He profusely thanked the people of state for the remarkable display of calm and patience in this hour of crisis. Bhagwant Mann, while expressing gratitude to the people for standing solidly with the state government in these difficult times by maintaining peace and communal harmony, reiterated the commitment of the state government to ensure that Punjab emerges as a peaceful, progressive and prosperous state in the country.
Mann unequivocally said that the youth of the state will not be allowed to become raw material for the hate factories being run in the name of religion. Bhagwant Mann said that they want to see books, laptops, jobs , medals and appointment leaders of key posts in the hands of youth but these leaders want to disarray the youth by asking them to take weapons in their hands. He said that some forces are highly mistaken that they can divide people on communal lines because the peace loving Punjabis will thwart any such attempt.
He said that Punjab has a very fertile land and anything can germinate on it except hatred and animosity. He also recalled the enormous contribution of Punjabis in the national freedom struggle, making the country self-reliant in food production, ushering in an era of green and white revolution along with defending the borders of the state.
Bhagwant Mann said that most recently four brave hearts from the state had sacrificed their lives for safeguarding the unity, integrity and sovereignty of the country in Jammu-Kashmir.