Chandigarh, April 14, 2023 (Yes Punjab News)
Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal today sought a repeal of all anti democratic and repressive Black Laws such as NSA and UAPA and called for an immediate stoppage of their rampant and brazen abuse by the AAP govt in Punjab pending the repeal.
“ This abuse symbolizes the communal hatred of AAP’s national leaders against the patriotic Sikhs. It is also an attempt to distract attention of the people from the brazen incompetence and failures of the ruling party to honour its commitments to Punjabis,” said Mr Badal.
The Akali chief shot off a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking his intervention for repeal of these black laws in the light of experience and their adverse impact on the country’s image as the world’s largest democracy.
Mr Badal came down heavily against AAP govt in Punjab, saying that it had” turned these repressive Black Laws into weapons of mass witch hunt against members of the Khalsa Panth, especially the innocent Sikh youth. Even innocent members of Sikh families, including the elderly, the women and children are being subjected to repression.”
“ The AAP govt in Punjab is setting new records in the gross abuse of these Black Laws against the innocent Sikh masses, especially the youth.” Condemning the state govt for “launching an unprecedented crackdown against the innocent and patriotic Sikh community,” Mr Badal said that the Punjab govt was picking up Sikh youth on mere suspicion and booking them under repressive laws like the NSA and packing them off to far off destinations such as Dibrugarh.
“ They have brought back the bitter memories of Kala Pani for the Punjabis under the British.” said the Akali chief.
Seeking the “ urgent, immediate intervention” of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the repeal of these laws, Mr Badal said that among other things, “are also being abused to target the political opponents of the ruling party, including democratically elected leaders of the people.”
Recalling the history of Black Laws in the country, Mr Badal said that the Punjabis, especially the Sikhs and their democratically elected representatives, the Shiromani Akali Dal, were the worst victims of these Black Laws during the Congress regimes, especially under Mrs Indira Gandhi’s infamous Emergency.
Even the most highly respected figures of the community including the Shiromani Akali Dal leaders like Master Tara Singh ji, Sant Fateh Singh ji, Sant Harchand Singh ji Longowal, Sardar Parkash Singh Badal and Jathedar Gurcharan Singh Tohra were targeted and accused shockingly of “waging war against the country” and thrown behind bars under these Black Laws.
Today, however, the same black laws have returned under a different garb. The abuse is so rampant that even fundamental rights and legitimate democratic freedom guaranteed under the constitution have come under a serious threat,” said the former Deputy Chief Minister in his letter.
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