SAD workers led by Sukhbir S Badal gherao CM’s residence despite heavy garrisoning and multiple barricades put in their way.

(SAD President condemns brutal lathi charge which left more than a dozen injured)

(Courts arrest along with senior leaders and workers)

(Demands compensation @ Rs 50,000 per acre for cotton growers and reduction in State VAT on petrol and diesel by Rs ten per liter each)

(Asks CM and PCC President to tell why they have not opposed award of top post to 1984 genocide perpetrator Jagdish Tytler)

Chandigarh, November 6 – Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) activists led by their president Sukhbir Singh Badal today succeeded in holding a ‘gherao’ of the residence of chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi despite heavy garrisoning of the MLA flats and multiple barricades put in their way to prevent them from proceeding towards the chief minister’s residence.

The SAD President led by example by forcing his way through barricades put up at the MLA flats from where he proceeded along with party workers to the chief minister’s residence. The workers faced a brutal lathi charge near the CM’s residence in which more than dozen of them were injured including some who suffered serious injuries. Mr Badal condemned the unprovoked attack on the peacefully protesting workers.

Sukhbir Badal condemned this and said it was part of a conspiracy to prevent people from raising their voice against the corrupt Congress government which was indulging in open loot and plunder of State resources. He demanded the false case be withdrawn immediately besides calling for a probe into the unprovoked attack on Akali workers.

Earlier  Badal courted arrested along with senior party leaders and workers. He also announced the party’s resolve to continue to protest peacefully until the grievances of the farmers as well as the common man were not resolved. He said the voice of the people could not be throttled with sticks and that Punjabis had never tolerated tyranny and would give a befitting response to the gang of ‘lutere’ who were ruling the State at present.

In the afternoon Akali workers in thousands held a march from the MLA flats to the CM’s residence and even broke police barriers to reach the chief minister’s residence. Holding up placards and raising slogans of  “narma da muawafza jaari karo” and ‘petrol diesel sasta karo, annadaata te reham karo”, the Akali workers also demanded registration of a case against the Gandhi family in the 1984 genocide case besides demanding an end to the protection being given to the massacre perpetrators including Jagdish Tytler.

Speaking on the occasion, Badal asked the chief minister to stop photo-ops and start performing by delivering on the promises made to the people. He said instead of doing this Charanjit Channi was extending patronage to the sand and liquor mafia who were ruling the roost. He also asked the chief minister to give compensation of Rs 50,000 per acre to cotton growers whose crop had been destroyed by pink boll worm attack adding the Congress government was insulting a majority of the growers by offering them a compensation of Rs 2,000 per acre. Mr Badal also demanded that the State government give immediate relief to the common man and farmers by reducing State VAT on petrol and diesel by Rs 10 per liter each.

The SAD President also asked chief minister Charanjit Channi and Pradesh Congress President Navjot Sidhu as to why they had not objected to the award of a top post to 1984 carnage perpetrator Jagdish Tytler. He said there were accusations against Channi that he had agreed to the move during a meeting with Congress President Sonia Gandhi. He also asked Navjot Sidhu to demand the removal of Tytler if he was really concerned about the sentiments of the Sikh Panth and Punjabis. Mr Badal said in case both Channi and Sidhu did not raise any protest against the appointment of Tytler they would prove to be the biggest betrayers of the Sikh ‘panth’.

 Badal also demanded that the Congress party should support a resolution calling for registration of case against the Gandhi family in the 1984 genocide in the forthcoming special session of the Vidhan Sabha. He said similarly the resolution should also demand the immediate arrest of Tytler for systematically targeting Sikhs and their properties in November, 1984.

Senior leaders including Prof. Prem Singh Chandumajra, Bikram Singh Majithia, Maheshinder Singh Grewal, Gulzar Singh Ranike, Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema, NK Sharma, Mantar Singh Brar, Harinderpal Singh Chandumajra, Anil Joshi, Harpreet Singh Kotbhai Vardev Singh Noni Mann, Barjinder Singh Makhan Brar, Dimpy Dhillon, Parambans Singh Romana, Rozy Barkandi, Talbir Singh GillGurpartap Singh Tikka, Hansraj Josan, Mohinder Rinwa, Montu Vohra and Arshdeep Singh Robin Brar.