Akali Dal protest in front of Captain's residence turns violent; Leaders court arrest

Punjab police set up barricades at two different places to stop the protestors. These measures, however, fell short as the protesters clashed with the police and tried to break the barricades. To disperse the crowd, the police also used water cannons. Several protesters have received injuries and their clothes were torn in the melee.

Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh's residence was gheraoed by Shiromani Akali Dal activists and politicians today. Around 11:00 am, Akali Dal workers gathered at Siswa Tea Point and the protest led by Akali Dal leaders marched towards the Chief Minister's residence.

The police set up barricades at two different places to stop the protestors. These measures, however, fell short as the protesters clashed with the police and tried to break the barricades. To disperse the crowd, the police also used water cannons. Several protesters have received injuries and their clothes were torn in the melee. Punjab's opposition party Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has opened a front against Captain Amarinder Singh's government over the vaccination and Fateh kit scam. The protest was led by the SAD President Sukhbir Singh Badal, who was also taken into custody by the Punjab Police.

After being taken into custody, Sukhbir Singh Badal said, "If a storm arises, the Captain will not be able to stop it, even if he puts all his might." Shiromani Akali Dal President Sukhbir Singh Badal said that that there have been so many scams in Punjab but no action has been taken by the Chief Minister in any case, the Punjab government is not working for the people but only doing scams. He further added that the Chief Minister is missing from Punjab for the last four and a half years and this time people will teach a lesson to Congress in the elections.

Several other leaders of SAD including Bikram Singh Majithia, Dr Daljit Singh Cheema, Balwinder Singh, Govind Singh Longowal, and Youth Akali Dal President Parambans Singh Bunty Romana also courted arrest. The Shiromani Akali Dal is protesting several scams in Punjab, related to vaccine supply, Fateh Kit, and Post-metric scholarship scam. The SAD is demanding the ouster of Punjab Health Minister, Balbir Singh Sidh and a CBI investigation in these scams.

Aam Aadmi Party, Shiromani Akali Dal, and Bahujan Samajwadi Party have begun to corner the Captain Amarinder Singh led-Congress government in Punjab, which is also struggling to contain the in-party issues as the state is inching closer to Assembly elections.