Tarn Taran, October 30
Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring today blamed both the ruling Aam Aadmi Party and the Shiromani Akali Dal for their “sins of omission and commission” that has allowed the gangster culture to grow and spread in Punjab. He also demanded action against the family members of the gangsters who were trying to threaten and intimidate people in their (gangsters’) name.
In an informal interaction with reporters during his campaign for Karanbir Singh Burj, the party candidate for the Tarn Taran assembly by-election, Warring called for stringent and tough action against the gangsters lest they turn Punjab into an anarchic and lawless state.
“We can’t let Punjab turn into ‘jungle raj’, which looks imminent if strong and tough measures are not taken right away”, he said, while adding, “once the Congress government is formed, we will set a short deadline for finishing crime and gangster culture from Punjab”.
Warring said while the AAP was guilty of the sin of omission by failing to take effective action against the gangsters, the Akali Dal was guilty of commission by not only collaborating with the gangsters but also using their name to threaten and intimidate voters.
Warring suggested that action must also be taken against the family members and relatives of the gangsters who try to intimidate people using the gangsters’ name. He said, this was precisely happening in Tarn Taran where the Akali candidate was using the threats and intimidation at the behest of and on behalf of a UK based gangster, who happens to be her close relative.
Asked what action he would suggest, Warring remarked, “unprecedented situations and challenges need unorthodox and out of box solutions”. He said, once the Congress forms government in Punjab in 2027, it will show how to end the gangster culture from Punjab in a time bound manner.
