Slamming the Congress party for politicizing sensitive issues concerning peace and communal harmony in the state, the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today said that Congress wants to escalate communal tension for its vested political interests. Interacting with the media persons after sharing condolences with the bereaved family members of slain RSS leader Brig (Retd) Jagdish Gagneja here today, the Chief Minister said that the Congress has a notorious track record of dividing the people on communal lines for attaining power in the state. Squarely blaming Congress for black days in the state, he said that Punjab has earlier suffered a lot due to these dirty tantrums of Congress party. Mr. Badal said that once again the Congress was resorting to its age old game divisive politics for disturbing the hard earned peace and communal harmony in the state.
The Chief Minister said that killing of Brig. Gagneja was not a political issue but it was an issue concerning peace, communal harmony and amity in the state. He said that it was unfortunate that for their personal gains the political parties were politicizing this grave issue. Mr. Badal said that the political parties should refrain from stooping too low on such sensitive issues just for scoring brownie points before media.The Chief Minister said that the state government has already entrusted the enquiry of this case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). He hoped that the CBI would investigate the case on fast track mode for nailing the culprits behind this heinous act. Mr. Badal said that the state Police would provide all the requisite help to the Central Investigation agency for expediting the probe in this case.Paying tributes to the departed soul, the Chief Minister described him a suave leader who was committed for the welfare of the masses from core of his heart. He said that death of Brig. Gagneja was a huge personal loss for him as he shared very cordial ties with him. Mr. Badal said that due to the sad demise of this great soul the entire Punjab was in grief today.
Earlier sharing condolences with the members of bereaved family, the Chief Minister described Brig Gagneja as an able administrator, an astute military officer and a dedicated soldier besides a fine human being with the qualities of head and heart. Recalling the outstanding services rendered by Brig Gagneja during his long association with the RSS Punjab, Mr. Badal said that after serving the Army the RSS leader devoted his life for the welfare of the state and its people. Describing death of Brig Gagneja as a colossal loss to the country in general and a huge ‘personal loss’ particularly, Mr. Badal recalled his warm and cordial ties with the departed soul. The Chief Minister assured the bereaved family that the entire Punjab in general and state government in particular was with them in this hour of crisis. Consoling the family members, Mr. Badal said that every Punjabi would ever remain indebted to unparalleled sacrifice made by Brig. Gagneja.The Chief Minister was accompanied by MLA Mr. KD Bhandari, former MLA and Chairman District Planning Committee Kapurthala Mr. Sarabjeet Singh Makkar, SGPC Member Mr. Paramjit Singh Raipur, Director General of Police Mr. Suresh Arora, his Special Principal Secretary Dr. S Karunaraju and Commissioner of Police Jalandhar Mr. Arpit Shukla.