Five-time Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Thursday expressed "grave concern and anxiety" over the sequence of recent events in Punjab and called for an end to the ongoing wave or repression against innocents and maximum vigil to preserve the hard-earned atmosphere of peace and communal harmony in the state.

“This is a critical hour and it calls for an exercise of optimum restraint, sagacity and far-sightedness by those in power," he said in a message. 

In his message, Badal expressed "anguish" over the prevailing situation and said that this is an outcome directly of an inept handling of a sensitive situation by the present govt. Their style of governance has posed a serious challenge to peace, law and order and social harmony in the state. "For fifteen years, three successive governments led by me not only ensured peace and harmony among Punjabis of all faiths and shades of opinion but also put the state firmly on a fast-track development mode, visible everywhere even today. But things started to degenerate the moment we left and everyone can see that degeneration around them now," he said.

Badal, however, said that his party will cooperate with everyone regardless of our political differences to bring back peace, harmony and progress to the state. "Peace is beyond and above political divisions. All of us must work together as Punjabis and to salvage our state. We will always go the extra mile to cooperate with others for this sacred objective for the sake of our people," he said.