RPG attack: Opposition parties in Punjab attack AAP govt, demand CM Mann's resignation
Chandigarh (PTI): Following a rocket-propelled grenade attack on a police station in Punjab's Tarn Taran district, Opposition parties on Saturday demanded Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's resignation and said it was the "direct result" of the AAP government's "apathy" in maintaining law and order.
On Friday night, a rocket-propelled grenade was fired at a police station in the border district and it hit the Saanjh Kendra adjoining the Sarhali police station on the Amritsar-Bathinda highway.
This is the second such incident in the state in seven months. In May, a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) was fired at the Punjab Police's Intelligence headquarters located in Mohali.
Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal on Saturday said the RPG attack was a direct result of the Aam Aadmi Party government's "apathy" in maintaining law and order.
He asked Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to realise the gravity of the situation and take some concrete measures.
"This is 2nd time in 6 months police building attacked with rocket launcher in Punjab. It's direct result of AAP govt's apathy in maintaining law & order & allowing narco-terrorism to raise its head again. @BhagwantMann should realise gravity of situation & take concrete measures," Badal tweeted.
SAD leader Daljit Singh Cheema sought Mann's resignation for "failing" to maintain law and order.
BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh alleged that the AAP government had completely failed in maintaining law and order.
Referring to the RPG attack and also the recent murder of a cloth merchant in Jalandhar, Chugh said Mann should seek an apology from the people of the state for "failing" in discharging his responsibilities.
Chugh asked Mann to resign if he was unable to maintain law and order in the border state.
Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring dubbed the incident "quite serious".
"Ominous signals. This is quite serious. Enemies of peace have the audacity to attack police stations. It does not portend well for Punjab. We have to fight against it together. Govt at the Centre and state have to take the lead. Can't take such threats lightly," he tweeted.
The AAP government has already been under fire over the murder of a cloth merchant by unidentified assailants in Jalandhar on December 7 and other crimes.
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Bengaluru (PTI): Uganda's Olympian Joshua Cheptegei, promising Kenyans Cintia Chepngeno and Gladys Kwamboka Mong’are, the reigning African champion in the 10,000m, are some of the prominent global runners who will grace this year’s TCS World 10K to be held here on April 27.
In the men’s section, Cheptegei, who is returning to the event for the first time since 2014, will be challenged by compatriot Stephen Kissa, a bronze medallist in the 2020 Delhi Half-Marathon.
Kenya’s Vincent Langat, who clocked 26:55 in Valencia earlier this year, may pull a surprise if conditions suit him.
Awet Nftalem Kibrab, who originated in Eritrea and emigrated to Norway in 2022, and Ethiopian Jenbery Sisay, may try their luck in the World Athletics Gold Label Road Race.
In the women’s section, African runners from three different countries will be eager to stretch the favourites Chepngeno and Mong’are.
Eritrea’s Rahel Daniel, who finished fifth in the 2022 World Championships in Eugene, Ethiopia’s 2023 African junior champion Asmarech Anley and Ugandan Sarah Chelangat will offer a tough challenge to the Kenyan duo.
Chelangat was a finalist in the 10,000m event at the Paris Olympic Games and the World Championships in recent years.
