Union Minister of State for commerce and Industry Som Parkash today held the Punjab Government responsible for deterioration of law and order situation in the State citing killing of four jawans in the recent attack on the Army station at Bhatinda on Wednesday .
Talking to reporters after giving away appointment letters to 87 unemployed youths in the centre government departments in a impressive function at Rail Coach Factory Kapurthala here , The Minister alleged that it was sole responsibility of State Government to maintain law and order in the state and the centre government could render only assistance by sending paramilitary forces and giving intelligence inputs.
Replying to a question on the deterioration of law and order in the state, The Minister alleged that gangsters were operating from jails giving interviews to the TV channels threatening people and NRI’s demanding ransom and the increasing number of looting incidents are blatantly exposing the failure of law enforcing machinery.
He alleged that Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann should be held responsible for poor governance in the state.
Replying to another question, he said law and order is a completely state subject and centre cannot intervene except central rule.
When asked about the centre government decision flayed by the farmers organisations on the procurement of wheat crops damaged in the recent rains in the state, the Minister said centre has given relaxation in the purchase of 18 percent damaged crops and only cut in the support price where damage to the crops is more than 18 percent.