<p>Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Friday blamed the Congress for “intentionally raising the bogey of militancy” in Punjab ahead of the Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh polls. <br /><br /></p>.<p>The Punjab deputy chief minister said the issue of revival of militancy in Punjab, raised by the Congress after an attack in London on Lt Gen (retd) K S Brar, who led the 1984 Operation Bluestar to flush out militants from the Golden Temple complex, was an attempt to distract attention from scams.<br /><br />Talking to reporters in Nawanshahr, Badal said the Congress had earlier tried to distract the public by giving nod to foreign direct investment in multi-brand retail.<br /><br />“The fact is that Gen Brar is a protectee of the Union home ministry and any attack on him reflects failure of the Union government to ensure protection of its own protectee,” he said.<br /><br />Govt committed<br /><br />Badal said the Punjab government was committed to maintaining peace and tranquillity in the state and would not allow Congress to vitiate the atmosphere. <br />He said the Punjab government had launched a drive in the past six years against militants and drug mafia. <br /><br />He added that 184 militants had been arrested while five had surrendered due to pressure from the Punjab Police.Badal took a dig at the central government for recommending the release of Kishori Lal, convicted for the death of six Sikhs in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in Delhi.<br /><br />He said his party make efforts to block the release of Kishori Lal and ensure punishment for all accused of the 1984 riots.<br /><br />Meanwhile, protests against foreign direct investment in multi-brand retails have stepped up across Punjab, with farmers and traders taking to the streets in large numbers.<br /><br /></p>
<p>Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Friday blamed the Congress for “intentionally raising the bogey of militancy” in Punjab ahead of the Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh polls. <br /><br /></p>.<p>The Punjab deputy chief minister said the issue of revival of militancy in Punjab, raised by the Congress after an attack in London on Lt Gen (retd) K S Brar, who led the 1984 Operation Bluestar to flush out militants from the Golden Temple complex, was an attempt to distract attention from scams.<br /><br />Talking to reporters in Nawanshahr, Badal said the Congress had earlier tried to distract the public by giving nod to foreign direct investment in multi-brand retail.<br /><br />“The fact is that Gen Brar is a protectee of the Union home ministry and any attack on him reflects failure of the Union government to ensure protection of its own protectee,” he said.<br /><br />Govt committed<br /><br />Badal said the Punjab government was committed to maintaining peace and tranquillity in the state and would not allow Congress to vitiate the atmosphere. <br />He said the Punjab government had launched a drive in the past six years against militants and drug mafia. <br /><br />He added that 184 militants had been arrested while five had surrendered due to pressure from the Punjab Police.Badal took a dig at the central government for recommending the release of Kishori Lal, convicted for the death of six Sikhs in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in Delhi.<br /><br />He said his party make efforts to block the release of Kishori Lal and ensure punishment for all accused of the 1984 riots.<br /><br />Meanwhile, protests against foreign direct investment in multi-brand retails have stepped up across Punjab, with farmers and traders taking to the streets in large numbers.<br /><br /></p>