Gangster-turned activist Lakha Sidhana is seemingly being protected by the Congress-run administration of Punjab. There can be no other reason as to how a man, wanted by the Delhi Police for inciting violence in the national capital on January 26 during the ‘tractor rally’ is roaming freely within Punjab, even as the state’s police spectates mutely. Delhi Police has also announced a reward of Rs. 1 lakh for information leading them to Sidhana. On Tuesday, the gangster was spotted for a whole one hour at a village in Bhatinda, addressing a ‘mahapanchayat’ of sorts attended largely by the youth and women.
Village Mehraj – where Sidhana addressed the rally, is also the hometown of chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh. Nonetheless, the Punjab Police did not deem it necessary to arrest one of the prime-accused in the Republic Day violence. In fact, Lakha Sidhana had himself called for the rally to be organised last Friday. This gave ample time for the Punjab Police to prepare a plan for arresting Sidhana, but of course, they seem least interested to do the same.
Sidhana dared Delhi Police to come and arrest any Punjabi youth booked in the Republic Day violence case and appealed to people that if any Delhi Police team came to arrest anyone in their village or city, then they should gherao them and keep them there itself until they relent. If Punjab Police accompanied them, then Chief Minister Amarinder Singh would be responsible for it, he declared. He also remarked, “This is a fight for the existence as history is written for those who fight for their rights as our fight is not only for fasal (crop), but for nasal (generations).” Captain should ideally deploy several teams to arrest the man after his open dare to the chief minister’s office.
Lakha Sidhana left the venue on a motorcycle. Interestingly, it not just the Delhi Police which should be wanting to arrest Sidhana. In Punjab itself, Lakha Sidhana faces at least 10 criminal cases – including those relating to illegal land-grab and murder. Why a wanted criminal and gangster is being allowed to roam freely in Punjab is incomprehensible for many. Does Captain Amarinder Singh not feel a sense of duty to the nation any longer, or has politics clouded his judgement to the extent that he is not shying away from shielding wanted gangsters?
Along with Sidhana, Punjabi actor-turned-activist Deep Sidhu, who was seen as protesters swarmed the Red Fort and even put up a religious flag on its ramparts, has been named the main accused in the violence. While Deep Sidhu has been arrested by Delhi Police, it remains unclear why Lakha Sidhana is being given a long rope.
