Akali Dal calls arrests linked to Amritpal Singh chase a ‘reign of repression and terror’

New Delhi: The Shiromani Akali Dal on Monday termed the ongoing hunt for Khalistani leader Amritpal Singh as "undeclared emergency and reign of repression and terror" in the state.

Sukhbir Singh Badal, the president of Dal, came down on the Aam Aadmi administration, accusing it of spreading ‘conspiracy theories’ to defame the Sikh community, according to NDTV.

The leader also condemned what he called the arrest of "innocent Sikh youth" just as the hunt for Amritpal Singh continued on the third day.

Tweeting on Monday evening, Badal praised former Chief Minister and Akali Dal patriarch Parkash Singh Badal for starting what he called ‘an era of peace and progress’ after pulling the state out of ‘bloody cycle of terror and repression’.

The successive governments have since ‘pushed Punjab back into the jaws of insecurity and repression’, he tweeted alongside pointing at the Emergency and a violent separatist movement for Khalistan in the 1980s and early 1990s, according to the report.

Accusing the AAP administration of communal polarisation, Badal said Sikhs made the greatest sacrifices for Independence being the ‘most patriotic community’.

"Sikhs are the most patriotic people and have made the greatest sacrifices for securing & safeguarding independence, unity & integrity of India and we'll do so again whenever the country needs it. This is our country & Sikhs need no certificate from anyone on their patriotism," he reportedly said.

Sukhbir Singh Badal strongly condemned the ‘indiscriminate arrests of innocent Sikh youths’ on what he said ‘mere suspicion’.

Ruling AAP, however, said that it will not allow lawlessness in the state, adding that there will be strict action against anyone trying to disturb peace.