The Indian Youth Congress on Monday demanded Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement and resignation of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal over the terror attack in Gurdaspur leading to the deaths of 10 people, including a senior police office.
Scores of IYC activists, who had initially gathered near External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj’s residence to protest against the Lalit Modi issue, quickly changed their agenda as reports of the raging gun battle, that had commenced early on Monday morning, started coming in.
Led by president Amrinder Raja Brar and Rajya Sabha MP Raj Babbar, IYC workers raised slogans against Mr. Modi saying insurgency was staging a come back in Punjab after decades of peace but the Centre seemed undeterred by this fact.
The protesters also burnt effigies of Mr. Modi and Mr. Badal for their alleged laxity in dealing with “growing security threat”.
“Insurgency seems to be coming back in Punjab, which has remained peaceful since the 1990s. Our CM [Beant Singh] laid down his life for securing the State. The Prime Minister calls himself a chowkidar . Such a chowkidar should be thrown out,” Mr. Babbar said.
Meanwhile, Mr. Brar urged Mr. Modi to address a press conference for failing to prevent the attacks even after “intelligence agencies issued warnings”. “His 56-inch chest seems to have deflated to 5.6-inch,” he said, adding that the BJP should immediately snap ties with the Shiromani Akali Dal.
Mr. Badal has no right to continue as Chief Minister, Mr. Brar announced, adding the IYC had initially gathered to protest against Ms. Swaraj, but the question of country’s security was more important.
