The Shriomani Akali Dal (SAD) today warned the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to desist from making attempts to disturb the hard won peace in Punjab, failing which it would be difficult to stop the akali cadre from reacting to the incendiary actions of AAP members.Reacting to the extremely provocative act of an AAP cadre at the Isru shaheedi conference in Ludhiana district today, SAD general secretary and core committee member Maheshinder Singh Grewal said while democratic means of protests were always welcome, no civilised society could allow such vulgar attempts to disturb the law and order situation in Punjab to succeed.Maheshinder Grewal said it was condemnable that an AAP member had tried to not only disturb law and order at the Isru conference but had also disrespected the martyrs on the day the nation was celebrating its independence from British yolk.
The SAD leader said immediately after coming to know about the grave incident, the SAD had asked its workers to exercise restraint. “However in case AAP indulges in any such act again it would be difficult to control the SAD cadre which might then not allow the Aam Aadmi Party to hold any political conference in Punjab in future”.The akali leader said the frustration in the AAP rank and file was understandable. “The party has virtually broken down at the centre. In Punjab there is great resentment against the AAP mps, few of who have indulged in inappropriate conduct which has been condemned by civil society as well as newspapers and even the social media”.
He said the vulgar protest by an AAP member today should be seen in this context. Stating that AAP was on its last legs in Punjab, he said the popularity of the party would be up for judgement soon following declaration of the results of the bypolls to Patiala and Talwandi Sabo assembly constituencies.Meanwhile Mr Grewal urged the Punjab police to go behind the incident and ascertain whether there was any conspiracy behind it. He also urged AAP leaders of Punjab to be mindful of the past history of the State and not indulge in any provocative statements or acts which could disturb its law and order. “You are free to hold democratic protests but do not stoop so low that the entire civil society turns against you and pushes you out of mainstream politics in Punjab”, he added.