Click to play videoNew Delhi: Punjab continued to remain tense for a second consecutive day after violent protests rocked the state on Tuesday over killing of a Sikh sect guru in Vienna.
Curfew in Jalandhar and Phagawara was relaxed but Hoshiarpur and Ludhiana were still under survelliance.
All highways have been cleared and rail traffic has been partially restored. Earlier in the day, security forces conducted flag marches in disturbed areas.
In Vienna, where it all began, the six men arrested for the attacks have been identified. But for the moment caught in the crossfire are thousands of passengers, waiting in Jammu. CNN-IBN spoke with Punjab Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal and he said the situation was under control.
CNN-IBN: Punjab is limping back to normalcy. Could this have been controlled earlier? Could more have been done?
Badal: The incident in Vienna took place at around 8 o’clock day before yesterday in the evening. It was not a planned incident. Suddenly we got the news of the unfortunate incident so immediately things started getting worse in various parts of Punjab, especially in the Doaba region. We contacted the Government of India and requested for Central forces. It took 7-8 hours for the forces to come in. Then we got in touch with PM to get army's help but that also took about 4-5 hours. But then that is the whole procedure required. So by night we got all our forces ready and by morning we got control over the situation. I think the response by the administration was quite quick.
CNN-IBN: The Home Minister suggests more could've been done. More pre-emptive action could've been taken.
Badal: The situation is not localised. It was spread all over Doaba and parts of Malwa and Maaja. So immediately the forces were deployed. But we needed a strong backup to enforce a curfew as soon as the backup was recovered we were able to enforce everything.
CNN-IBN: We have had similar clashes before like between the Sikhs and the supporters of Dera Sacha Sauda. Is there a worry that it does spiral out of control each time?
Badal: Last year, a similar problem happened with the Dera Sacha Sauda and we were able to control it immediately within two to three days. It was quick response from the Punjab government. Even now the magnitude of the crisis was very big but we were able to contain it very fast.
CNN-IBN: Keeping in mind the religious sentiments, will action be taken against those who destroyed property?
Badal: We are examining every aspect of the all-party meeting today which strongly condemned the incidents in Vienna as well as in Punjab. At the moment our main job is to bring normalcy. Today the traffic is moving and the curfew which was imposed has been reduced (sic) and no clashes have been since.
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