SAD-BJP govt legalises lawlessness, says Khangura - 17/08/2009
Qila Raipur MLA Jassi Khangura today stated that the SAD-BJP government in the state was not only promoting lawlessness in Punjab but had gone a step further by legalising it.Referring to the recent government communication to the newly installed DGP withdrawing the powers of the police to check documents of buses operating on Punjab roads, Khangura remarked, “It is extremely irresponsible and downright shamelessness for the government to prevent police from performing its duty. Without these checks there will be anarchy on our roads.”
Warning the government to withdraw the order, Khangura said that otherwise he will move the courts.
The MLA observed that perhaps for the first time in Punjab the police is being barred from enforcing the law.
Khangura stressed "the motives are too obvious. By asking the police not to check the route permits, the vehicle documents and the licences of the drivers, the government wants to provide a free run to the buses owned by the Badal family and its close cohorts who operate their buses without valid documents, route permits and drivers' licences."
The MLA pointed out that this will not only encourage lawlessness, but will also endanger the lives of the people as accidents are likely to increase.
Khangura stated "the bus drivers employed by the Badal consortium were already a law unto themselves, responsible for many hit and run incidents; invariably escaping with impunity. Now they will become fully fledged extortionists."
Khangura added "the ruling family being the biggest private player in the bussing sector stands to be the biggest financial gainer. This exercise is designed to overwhelm the routes with Badal consortium busses, thus forcing operators outside the consortium to surrender and close. The Badal's will then have achieved their objective of a private monopoly controlling most of Punjab's busses. They will then double or treble fares."
Khangura closed "it is the duty of every CM to ensure that executive orders are only for the public good, yet Mr Badal suffers not an iota of guilt as he incessantly promotes his family business interests."
