Congress, AAP Demand President's Rule in Punjab

Chandigarh: Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) today demanded imposition of President's rule in Punjab contending that the state government has failed to tackle the deteriorating law and order situation, in the wake of recent incident of desecration of the holy book of the Sikhs.

Congress and AAP delegations met Governor Katpan Singh Solanki separately, urging him to immediately impose President's rule in the state.

Congress Legislature Party leader Sunil Jakhar, who led a delegation of party MLAs met the Governor and said "as the fast deteriorating conditions were spiralling out of control, any delay (in imposition of President's rule) could have grave consequences."

Mr Jakhar said if the government had taken timely action in apprehending the culprits responsible for desecrating the holy book in village Bagrari, such an unrest that Punjab was facing today would not had taken place.

"The conditions are getting from bad to worse with each passing day. Punjab Government seems to have been paralysed and is incapable to bring the situation under control. With the kind of volatile situation prevailing in Punjab, any small incident could snowball into a major catastrophe," the CLP leader said in his memorandum submitted to the Governor.

Now, the onus is on the central government to take timely action, he said.

Later, an AAP delegation, led by its state convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur, Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann and others, also met Solanki and submitted a memorandum demanding imposition of President's rule in the state.

Mr Chhotepur said the situation in Punjab was out of control and the only way left was to impose President's rule in the state.

Punjab is under turmoil after series of incidents of sacrilege of 'birs' (scriptures) of Guru Granth Sahib at different gurudwaras in villages and protests by Sikh activists, including hardliners.