Two major issues — Punjab police chief’s remarks on Kartarpur Corridor and allegations against the Cabinet Minister — that rocked Punjab Vidhan Sabha a day before, headed towards resolution on Tuesday with the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh clarifying the Government’s stand.
Underlining that the DGP Dinkar Gupta has already regretted his remarks and apologised, Capt Amarinder maintained that the Corridor would not be closed down despite Pak ISI’s “known” nefarious deigns and terror threats.
At the same time, Capt Amarinder vehemently defended to his Cabinet colleague, while brushing aside the Opposition’s demand to reopen 28-year-old cases against Bharat Bhushan Ashu pointing that the courts have acquitted him.
Capt Amarinder also declared that he would dismiss Punjab police “suspended” DSP Balwinder Singh Sekhon, who leveled allegations against Ashu, under Article 311 if the departmental probe declares him guilty.
However, “dissatisfied” opposition, including Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and SAD-BJP, staged a walk out demanding reopening of cases where trial was not held and Ashu’s dismissal from the State Cabinet.
Describing Ashu as the “competent Minister” and DSP Sekhon as “suspended and chargesheeted”, Capt Amarinder said that Congress leader was given a clean chit at every level.
After AAP MLA and the Leader of Opposition Harpal Singh Cheema pointed that allegations were leveled on the basis of Ashu’s confessional statement, Capt Amarinder said that all cases referred to by Sekhon had been scrutinized through judicial processes and no fresh evidence had been filed by the DSP, and Ashu had mentioned this in all his election affidavits.
Pointing out that Ashu was just 19 when his parents were killed, the Chief Minister said that TADA cases against him were examined by the Commission set up by the then Akali Government and Ashu was duly exonerated.
Cheema underlined that the trial was not held in the case, neither the challan was presented in other cases. “If 32-year-old case was reopened against SAD leader, why not this…what is the fault of those who have been killed…their families should be given justice…Ashu had confessed that he helped the terrorists,” he added.
Reacting, the Chief Minister asked that then why not acting against former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal who tore the Constitution.
“A lot happened in between…you were all kids. I know what Punjab had gone through….many thousands were killed…do you want to reopen all those cases. Do you want to talk about terrorism again,” asked Capt Amarinder.
Insisting the Government can reopen the cases of which the trial never held, including the Gur Mandi blast, Cheema asked the Government to table the report of all cases trials against Ashu in the House.
SAD MLa Bikram Singh Majithia pointed that DSP Sekhon was given inquiry in a matter by the former Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu in which Ashu’s name cropped up.
“Ashu made the confession before a gazetted officer that he harboured terrorists and helped them in Gur Mandi blast…Ashu was acquitted as carbon copies were provided and not the real confessional statement was provided before the court…he was not acquitted in a blast case where challan was not presented besides another case.
Intervening, the Speaker Rana KP Singh pointed that a FIR cannot stay if it does not have magistrate’s approval. Unhappy, SAD-BJP MLAs entered the well of the House sloganeering.
Cabinet Minister Sukhjinder Randhawa asked why Parkash Singh Badal did not reopen these cases when he was the Chief Minister for 15 years.
As the Speaker did not allow any further discussion on the matter, AAP MLAs staged a walk out, followed by a walk out by the SAD-BJP MLAs.
Earlier addressing the House, Capt Amarinder asserted that had someone like Balwinder Singh Sekhon made such charges against a senior commander in the Army, he would have been court martialled and dismisses by now.
“He is only trying to conduct a media trial with his baseless charges…Unfortunately, this is not the army and Sekhon could not be court martialled,” said Capt Amarinder, asserting that if the departmental inquiry currently in progress against the ex-DSP finds him guilty, he (the Chief Minister) would personally ensure the officer’s dismissal under Article 311.
“This man (Sekhon) was thrown out of police force and even dismisses from duty on many serious charges. But he was reinstated later, and he is now making charges against my Minister,” said the Chief Minister, questioning the former DSP’s locus standii in making any statements or allegations against Ashu.
Later, talking to the mediapersons outside the House, the Chief Minister said that the issue was being raised by the Akalis after all these years purely for political reasons. “Why did they (Akalis) not reopen the cases during their regime if they felt there was something in it?” he asked.
DGP ALREADY APOLOGIZED, KARTARPUR CORRIDOR NEVER BE CLOSED DESPITE THREATS: CAPT ASSURES HOUSE
Underlining the need for vigilance against Pakistan’s nefarious designs, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Tuesday made it clear that regardless of security concerns, the Kartarpur Corridor shall remain open for ‘Khulle Darshan Deedar’ of Gurdwara Darbar Sahib.
“Kartarpur Sahib Corridor has been opened because we wanted it to be opened; every Punjabi wanted it, and had prayed for it in daily ardas every day, along with praying for opening of Nankana Sahib, Panja Sahib and other Gurdwaras,” said Capt Amarinder, urging the Governments of India and Pakistan to work for the opening of these Gurdwaras too.
Capt Amarinder, who had requested the Speaker for permission to make his statement before the Question Hour, was responding to the criticism by the opposition of certain recent remarks of the state DGP regarding the threat potential of the Kartarpur Corridor.
Noting “with great concern the statements made by different persons and organizations on DGP’s remarks about security concerns relating to Sri Kartarpur Sahib,” the Chief Minister termed the reactions “totally avoidable”.
“The DGP had apologized; everybody makes mistakes; even I make mistakes, we are human beings,” said Capt Amarinder, asking if there was anyone from the Opposition who could claim not to have made mistakes.
“We all make mistakes, this issue is over now, let us concentrate on peace and on ensuring that the difficult times through which Punjab had been do not recur,” he added.
Pointing out that 35,000 Punjabis and 1,700 policemen had lost their lives, in addition to the Army soldiers, during the years of militancy in the stare, the Chief Minister said: “It is our responsibility is to ensure this does not happen again.” Assuring the people of Punjab, “through this August house, that we are extremely happy that the Corridor has been opened, thanks to our collective efforts,” the Chief Minister declared that it (the Corridor) shall remain open, whatever may be the concerns.”
“My Government was party to the decision to open up the Corridor. The whole of my government, including Ministers and officers of various departments, worked tirelessly day & night, along with the Central Government, to acquire the land and build the necessary Infrastructure in record time, including security infrastructure, for the launch of the Sri Kartarpur Sahib corridor to coincide with the 550 years birthday celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev ji in November 2019,” said Capt Amarinder.
The apprehensions of threat to the security of the people and the country were, however, “serious”, the Chief Minister said, adding that these apprehensions “are not because the Corridor has been opened but because of the ‘maadi neeyat’ (bad intent) of Pakistan.
The Chief Minister said that his Government had classified documents which he could not circulate in the House. After meddling in Kashmir for long, the ISI had only one task now – to disturb the peace of Punjab, he said, adding that Pakistan was blatantly trying to foment trouble in the State.
He informed the House that his Government had succeeded in checking ISI’s nefarious designs in the last three years with the Punjab Police had busting 32 modules, arresting 154 terrorists and seizing 41 AK47/ MP9/ MP5 rifles, 156 other rifles and pistols, 35 hand grenades including those used in the Nirankari Bhawan attack in Amritsar, 3.5 kg of RDX, two smart phones and Rs 30 lakhs in fake currency, the Chief Minister revealed.
Showing pictures of Chinese drones, Captain Amarinder said these had been seized from a man swimming through Raavi but there might be others that had not been caught. “Who knows what their motive is,” he added.
Later, responding to concerns raised by Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia, Captain Amarinder said Pakistan could not be trusted, as was evident from the developments in 1947, 1965, 1971 and the Kargil war. The Pak army was highly committed against India, with Prime Minister Imran Khan being a mere puppet in their hands, he said, adding that ISI was also a part of Pakistan Army.
