Parkash Singh Badal should sack Sukhbir: Bajwa

Punjab Congress president Partap Singh Bajwa pointed out that this was not the first time that father and son had "publicly differed".

Chandigarh: Punjab Congress president Partap Singh Bajwa on Sunday urged Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to sack Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal for allegedly failing to handle the current situation in the state over the last about three months.

"Sukhbir's sack would soothe the hurt feelings of the people in the state who are angry at the way the situation has been handled over the last three months", Bajwa said.

He pointed out this was not the first time that father and son had "publicly differed" as the day Badal senior was seeking apology from the people for his any act of omission or commission, Badal Junior was allegedly threatening the people.

The problem was that this could lead to utter chaos in the government with contradictory orders being issued and the repercussions would be far reaching and too serious, he said.

"This situation defied all cannons of governance and hence, Sukhbir must be shown the door in the broader interest of the state," Bajwa said in a statement here.

He said Sukhbir was trying to re-define the term nationalist by terming the Congress as "anti-national" while it is the Akali Dal that has been raising the "secessionist" demand.

"I advise Sukhbir to at least read the history of his own party and in case he so desires, I can send him the books detailing the track record of the party that he himself heads," he said.

Bajwa said the Deputy Chief Minister could not take refuge behind thick wall of security to keep himself aloof from the masses seething with anger against his government.

"In case he had the guts, he should face the people," he said.