CHANDIGARH, June 28: In the backdrop of opposition Congress’ allegations of police excesses against its workers, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today assured that there there was no political victimisation in the state.
Making a passionate appeal in the Assembly, Badal said, “I assure the House that there is no political vendetta in the state…I will not allow injustice to anyone…There is no political victimisation of Congressmen…Infact I urge the opposition to cooperate with the government”.
Pointing out that he had received a list of total 39 cases of alleged political vendetta from leader of opposition Sunil Kumar Jakhar, the Chief Minister said that after a thorough probe at senior level it was found that only three cases were false and these have been cancelled.
Rest of the cases were related to issues where there is no role of any party, he said.
He, however, said that these cases related to personal fights among families, land disputes, and other trivial issues and had no connection whatsoever with any political party.
“I am burdened on the issue (accusation of political vendetta)…I want to satisfy the Congress…Infact it was during the Congress regime false cases were registered against Akalis…Our raj (regime) is Ram Rajya,” Badal said amid thumping of benches by the treasury members.
“I have report of all the cases with me…My work is to get the probe done by senior officials if allegations of political vendetta are levelled against the government,” he said.
Intervening in the debate, Congress MLA Rajinder Kaur Bhattal claimed that the government did nothing on two “false cases” handed over to it by her for probe during the SAD-BJP last regime.
However, Badal took a dig on Bhattal for her replacement as CLP leader saying “maximum vendetta has been done against Bhattal”.
He asked the opposition whether they knew what happened to Akalis during the regime of Amarinder Singh. “One mistake (referring to alleged political vendetta during the Amarinder’s regime) kills the political career of a person”.
Badal said that he had even gone to the extent of giving a plum posting to an officer who did everything wrong with Akalis.
The Leader of Opposition hailed Badal for making efforts and going on in length on cases of political vendetta.
“I am not a complaint authority…I didn’t even have an office (as leader of opposition)…Its correct Congress had to face the wrath of public in polls for cases of political vendetta, including against Badal’s family,” Jakhar said.
“We are political adversaries and not enemies,” he said while seeking to know from Badal were these cases (39 provided to Badal) were registered under political pressure.
He said that “excesses are taking place in the state against political opponents and police is being used as a tool.
He said that there should be police complaint authority headed by a judge at district levels to monitor the cases. (PTI)
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