Govt ‘ignored intel inputs’, allowed Ashutosh meeting

Chandigarh, Punjab: Despite the state intelligence having told the Punjab government that the Divya Jyoti Jagriti Sansthan (DJJS), headed by Ashutosh, not be allowed to hold a programme in Ludhiana, the government still gave the go-ahead to the programme. Sources in the intelligence wing of the state police have told that the wing’s field units had sent reports to the senior intelligence officers at the Punjab Police headquarters about three weeks ago, saying that the then proposed Ludhiana programme of Ashutosh should not be allowed in the industrial city as it could lead to trouble between Sikh radicals and the followers of the DJJS.

“The report was compiled and further sent to the state government, including the offices of Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal, who is in charge of the Home department, and also the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), but the programme was still given the go-ahead,” said a senior officer of the wing.

Chief Secretary Subodh Agarwal admitted that the intelligence had predicted that some trouble could erupt if the programme was allowed, “But we cannot ban a programme like this; there could have been trouble from the other side. A balanced view was taken and it was allowed. It is unfortunate that violence happened, and now a magisterial inquiry has been ordered.’”

Major violent incidents during SAD-BJP regime

2007: Clash of Sikh radicals with followers of Dera Sacha Sauda at Bathinda.
2009: Violence in Doaba after Sant Ramanand of Dera Sachkand Ballan was killed in Vienna
2009: Clash between migrant labourers and police, locals in Ludhiana
2009: Violence in Ludhiana after radical Sikhs object to a religious congregation by Divya Jyoti Jagran Sansthan

Source: Harpreet Bajwa, Indian Express