Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal has said his party will provide legal assistance to Sikhs arrested in the ongoing police crackdown and ensure their rights were not "trampled upon" by the Aam Aadmi Party government. Altogether, 154 people have been arrested since police started its crackdown on Saturday against Khalistani leader Amritpal Singh and members of his "Waris Punjab De" group.
Mr Badal's statement, however, did not mention Amritpal Singh, who has been on the run since the police action began on Saturday, or his group.
The SAD president said it was shocking that scores of young men were being arrested "indiscriminately merely on suspicion" and termed the ongoing crackdown "extra-constitutional".
He said a state-level committee formed under SAD legal cell president Arshdeep Singh Kler, which would coordinate with party leaders in districts and provide prompt legal aid.
Mr Badal also asked party leaders to bring the "repression let loose" on young Sikh men to the notice of the party as well as the state committee to ensure justice to them.
SAD leader Virsa Singh Valtoha asked the AAP government to immediately withdraw the National Security Act (NSA) invoked against those arrested during the crackdown.
Addressing a press conference in Amritsar, Mr Valtoha said it was shocking to see that the Punjab Police registered cases against some Sikh youths under the NSA on instructions from the state government and have sent them to Dibrugarh jail in Assam.
Invoking the NSA in an ordinary law and order situation cannot be termed wise in any manner, he claimed.
Mr Valtoha, however, said the Akali Dal has always advocated that those who violated the law should be punished.
Featured Video Of The Day
Sukhbir Badal, Accused Of Religious Misconduct, Appears Before Top Sikh Body Akal Takht Declares Akali Dal Chief Sukhbir Badal Guilty Of Religious Misconduct Akali Dal Chief Sukhbir Singh Badal Forms Parliamentary Board Hamas Confirms Yahya Sinwar Killed By Israel, Won't Free Hostages Until... Drone Footage Of Hamas Chief Yahya Sinwar's Last Moments Released By Israel "War Can End Tomorrow If...": Netanyahu's Message After Killing Of Yahya Sinwar Male Breast Cancer: Signs, Causes, & Everything Else You Need To Know Company Hacked After Accidentally Hiring North Korean Cyber Criminal Applications Invited For 613 Lecturer Posts In Uttarakhand, Check Details Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.