Chandigarh, Oct 13 (IANS): Shiromani Akali Dal President Sukhbir Badal on Tuesday condemned the attack on the car of Punjab BJP chief Ashwani Kumar Sharma a day earlier and said it was the handiwork of "anti-social forces out to sabotage ongoing farmers' agitation" against the new agriculture-related laws.

Sukhbir Badal said there was no place for violence in a democracy and nothing could be achieved by indulging in violent activities. "Those involved in such attacks can never be well-wishers of the farming community," he said in a statement here.

Sukhbir Badal said the state's Congress government sould come down heavily on anti-social forces out to defame the farmers' cause and "not encourage them in any manner whatsoever".

"We are very clear that farmers cannot indulge in any such actions and we will oppose any attempt to put the blame on them." The Akali leader also asked the government to take steps to ensure such incidents do not recur in the state.

The SAD leader also appealed for maintaining peace and communal harmony in Punjab at all costs even as he called on the Centre to talk to the agitating farmers to resolve their grievances at the earliest.

The Punjab BJP chief's car was attacked by 30-40 persons with bricks and sticks near a toll plaza in Hoshiarpur town on Monday evening. Sharma escaped unhurt and termed the attack as "an attempt to defame the farmers".