Farmers Movement Archive

MLA assault: Centre keeping close watch on Punjab govt

NEW DELHI/CHANDIGARH: Even as Punjab police on Sunday arrested four persons who were part of the mob that assaulted BJP’s Abohar MLA Arun Narang on Saturday, the Centre has expressed anguish over the attack with a senior Union minister saying that the state’s chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh has failed to ensure the safety of the legislator. Asserting that the Centre is keeping a close watch on the functioning of the Punjab government with regard to the handling of violent protests against the new farm laws, the cabinet minister said, “We are disturbed and anguished. What is happening in Punjab is quite alarming and disturbing. This will not go for too long, something will have to be done.” The minister was visibly perturbed about the attack on Narang, who was stripped and thrashed brutally by a violent mob in Muktsar and had a narrow escape after cops managed to shut him in a small shop. Striped by the mob, blurred naked pictures of Narang were also in circulation on social media. Reminded that the Punjab chief minister has condemned the incident, the senior minister shot back, “Is condemnation enough? You condemn and it’s over?” He also questioned “double standards” of the media saying, “No one is questioning Punjab chief minister but they would have been hyper active had it been a BJP-ruled state.” He further questioned, “Then why you (media) start chasing and questioning Yogi Adityanath (UP CM) for any incident?” Meanwhile, Punjab Police on Sunday also identified 23 people who were part of the mob of more than 300 persons which assaulted Narang.

The Times of India

2021-03-29

Chandigarh