Five times former Chief Minister of Punjab Parkash Sigh Badal today described the shocking developments in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha as ‘ midsummer madness of the ruling Congress party and an outrage worse than the horrors of the Emergency days.’The former CM who delayed his flight to Delhi to visit the badly wounded legislators of the Aam Admi Party in Chandigarh’s Sector 16 Hospital, called it the ‘darkest day in the history of democratic India and a slur on democracy. Mr Badal ,who was accompanied in the hospital by his Advisor Harcharan Bains, told waiting newspersons, ’In seventy years of my public life, I have neither seen, nor experienced nor even imagined incidents of such horrific, shameful and repressive nature.’ Recalling the days events, Mr Badal said, ‘This brings back the memories of repression under the Mughals and the British. India has never seen anything so terriyfing in the most sacred temple of democracy since indpendence , not even during the dark days of Emergency. ‘Today, the Indian democracy was shamed in broad daylight on the floor of the august house of Punjab Vidhan Sabha. I am still finding it hard to believe my eyes and ears on what I have seen and heard.’
Mr Badal inquired about the health of the two legislators but both of them seemed in no condition to speak. They appeared to be only semi-conscious. Mr Badal also telephonically spoke to the AAP Convener and Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Sardar Harvider Singh Phoolka and expressed his deep anguish and outrage over the incidents involving the AAP legislators. He said the SAD has always championed the cause of democracy and human rights and will continue to do so .He offered full support from him personally and from his party to fight the Congress goondaism.’ ‘The Opposition will not take such an unabashed and full-blast assaults on democratic rights of the people and their representatives lying down.’ Mr Badal has demanded the registration of criminal cases against those who indulged in such wanton violence against the elected representatives of the people and those who issued such shameful orders. Under the Congress government , the elected representatives of the people are not safe even in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha. Was it this peaceful Punjab that they promised to the people when they sought a mandate in the last elections?’ the former CM asked.