The Congress on Saturday dismissed allegations by Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal that it was encouraging radical elements in Punjab.Badal accused the Congress of encouraging secessionist elements to create disturbances in the state.Senior Congress leader Capt Amarinder Singh held a press conference and said the Akali Dal leader was trying to hide "failure of his own government to maintain law and order".Amarinder Singh said that 12,000 acres of cotton crop in the state was destroyed due to supply of "spurious seeds and pesticides".He said many farmers had committed suicide and youth were without jobs.Meanwhile, Badal met President Pranab Mukherjee and said the Congress was in league with "secessionist forces" in Punjab and should be declared an "anti-national party".