"Hang Sacrilege Accused In Public," Says Congress's Navjot Sidhu

Navjot Singh Sidhu's remarks come at a time when most politicians in Punjab are treading cautiously on the subject in the run-up to the polls

Amid the deafening silence of Punjab's political faces over the two lynchings after alleged sacrilege attempts, state Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu has demanded public execution for those accused of desecrating religious texts.

Addressing a rally at Malerkotla yesterday, Mr Sidhu said cases of sacrilege hurt people's sentiments and demanded that the accused in such cases must be hanged in public. He alleged a "conspiracy against one community" and that fundamentalist forces are trying to disturb peace in Punjab.

Mr Sidhu's remarks come at a time when most politicians in Punjab are treading very cautiously on the subject in the run-up to the crucial Assembly polls.

While most prominent political figures have strongly condemned the alleged sacrilege attempts and pointed to a conspiracy behind them, they have shied away from speaking out on the mob lynchings of the accused.