Chandigarh, April 30: People’s Party of Punjab chief Manpreet Singh Badal today described as shameful the death of a young girl near Bagha Purana in Moga district yesterday who had jumped from the bus of Orbit transport along with her mother to escape molestation by the bus staff.
“Here is an extreme example of naked goondaism and increasing lawlessness in the state. The basic issue is why should such shameful incidents happen in the first place. the culprits should be given exemplary punishment”, he said in a statement.
He made it clear the issue was not as to who owned the bus as this was too well known a fact but the serious incident that too in a running bus. He said Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal had been claiming that Punjab was among the most peaceful states. However, this appalling incident was a blot on the face of this state.
The mother of the girl was admitted to the hospital with serious injuries while the daughter was declared brought dead.
He pointed out that the law and order situation had been deteriorating for the last some years due to political patronage to such antisocial elements. He said the home department was with the Deputy Chief Minister and as such, he was directly accountable to whatever was happening in the state on the law and order front.
He said what was all the more shocking that none in the bus came to their rescue and the bus staff connived in this shameful incident.
Manpreet also expressed surprise at the comment of the Chief Minister about the owner of the bus company saying he had nothing to do with it and had never visited its office.