Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday evening asked the Punjab Government to maintain utmost vigil, and ensure law and order in the state in the wake of days of clashes between Sikh organizations and followers of the Dera Sacha Sauda (DSS).
New Delhi/Amritsar, May 18 : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday evening asked the Punjab Government to maintain utmost vigil, and ensure law and order in the state in the wake of days of clashes between Sikh organizations and followers of the Dera Sacha Sauda (DSS).
Condemning the violence in the state, the Prime Minister further asked Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal to ensure protection to life and property of all citizens.
He expressed concern over the situation prevailing in Punjab and urged the people to maintain peace and harmony.
Earlier this day, Singh told reporters on the sidelines of a function at the Rashtrapati Bhavan that he was in touch with the Chief Ministers of Punjab and Haryana in the last two days.
"I sincerely hope nothing will be done to flare up tempers and the situation in Punjab will be brought under control," Singh told reporters.
Over 40 companies of paramilitary forces have been deployed in Punjab and in neighbouring Haryana following clashes between various Sikh organizations and the followers of the Dera Sacha Sauda (DSS).
Companies of the Rapid Action Force (RAF), the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Border Security Force (BSF) have been deployed in sensitive areas after Badal sought 5,000 of central force personnel.
"Forty-two companies of the RAF, the CRPF and the BSF have been despatched to Punjab and ten companies to Haryana," Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil said.
The Centre is keeping a close watch on the situation and advisories have been issued to Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Badal to keep the security forces on alert, he added.
Union Minister of State for Home Sri Prakash Jaiswal also called for a truce and asked the communities to peacefully resolve the row."It has been in our country's culture, whether someone is a Sikh or not, to be proud of the Sikh Gurus and the religion. All the people whose sentiments have been hurt, they will work with sensitivity and will sit and talk out all problems," Jaiswal said.
ANI