SYL issue, Nabha Jailbreak & Pathankot kept Punjab in news

TIL Desk/National/Chandigarh/ 2016 proved to be a tough year for the Punjab government with the apex court ruling on the vexed Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal issue coming as a setback while the Pathankot attack and the sensational Nabha jailbreak raised serious questions on the state’s security apparatus. Opposition Congress and AAP also made attempts to carve a space for themselves to ride on anti-incumbency against ruling Akalis.

The state saw a series of killings and murders including that of top RSS leader Brig Jagdish Singh Gagneja (Retd) in Jalandhar, Chand Kaur, wife of former head of Mandhari Sect in Ludhiana and Punjab Shiv Sena leader Durga Prasad Gupta at Khanna besides attack on Sikh preacher Ranjit Singh Dhandharianwale.

Besides deteriorating law and order situation, the government also grappled with the menace of drugs, prostitution and gangsters.

Desecration of the Sikh holy book continued unabated in the state, creating tension at several areas.

Sucha Singh Chhotepur’s removal from the post of state party convener and his counter attack at Delhi coterie threw a big challenge for AAP. Not ending here, Chhotepur, who built up the party in the state, floated Apna Punjab Party (APP).