SAD protests arrest of Faridkot district president

Bathinda: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) workers on Thursday staged a protest in Faridkot against the arrest of the party's district urban president Satish Grover and registration of a case against Faridkot halqa in-charge Parambans Singh Romana.Police had booked Grover, Romana and others on charges of assaulting and obstructing public servants during scrutiny of nomination papers for municipal council elections on May 18. Grover was arrested on the night of May 20.Addressing a sit-in protest, SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal condemned Grover's arrest and demanded withdrawal of all cases against SAD leaders.Badal alleged that the AAP govt registered "false cases" after seeing public support for SAD in Faridkot. "Our leaders are not afraid of such cases. Once we form the govt in 2027, we will review all such cases and proceed against those responsible," he said.He also met deputy commissioner Rahul Chaba and demanded Grover's immediate release. Badal claimed the protest by SAD workers had prevented the administration from rejecting nomination papers of party candidates. Accusing the state govt of failing to provide basic civic amenities in Faridkot, he appealed to people to support SAD.