Punjab hooch tragedy: SAD holds protest against Cong silence

Condemning the Congress rule in Punjab, SAD called a protest on August 11 in Delhi following the hooch tragedy in Punjab which has claimed over 100 lives in a week.

New Delhi: Following the incident of hooch tragedy in Punjab which has claimed over 100 lives in a week, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) called a protest against Congress on August 11 in Delhi.

According to Akali Dal spokesperson and vice president Diljit Singh Cheema, the protest will take place outside the residence of Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

In an exclusive interview with ETV Bharat, Cheema said, "Before the Assembly election in Punjab, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi expressed his concern over the issue that 70 per cent youth are drag addicted in Punjab. Yet more than 100 people died in the hooch tragedy during the Congress rule, still, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are maintaining silence in this regard."

"Many MLAs of Congress are also involved in liquor Mafia in Punjab," claimed Cheema, adding, this was the reason why the Shiromani Akali Dal has called for a protest.

Cheema also informed, "In view of COVID-19 pandemic, only members of core committee and Shiromani Akali Dal MLAs will take part in the protest".

Meanwhile, Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh ordered for statewide raids and crackdown on the illicit liquor business.

According to reports, 116 new cases and 74 arrests have been made in connection with the illicit liquor business, and police have recovered 1114 litres of illicit liquor so far.

Terming Punjab’s hooch tragedy as a short of ‘katal’ (mass murder), Singh on Friday has assured justice for the victims' families.

During his meet with the victims' families at Taran Taran, the Chief Minister increased the compensation from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh each.