Taking note of the cancellation of criminal cases against senior Akali leaders including certain Ministers, Punjab Congress on Monday blamed Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal for continuing political vendetta against Congress leaders.
“It is intriguing that SAD-BJP government has given clean chit to all its Ministers and senior Akali leaders involved in serious offences, while the Congress leaders are being hounded against whom false cases are registered by the police,” said Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Partap Singh Bajwa.
Appealing the Election Commission of India to take cognisance of the report filed by SAD-BJP Government related to criminal cases against Congress leaders, Bajwa urged the Commission to seek report on how the State police have cancelled the cases without any trial.
Bajwa pointed that criminal cases pending against Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia, Education Minister Sikandar Singh Maluka, former SGPC president and sitting MlA Bibi Jagir Kaur, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Inderbir Singh Bolaria and Amarpal Singh Bonny, SAD leader Alvinder Pal Singh Pakhoke and MlA Joginder Pal Jain were either cancelled or shown untraced.
“Bibi Jagir Kaur and Congress spokesman Sukhpal Singh Khaira along with his son were booked in similar cases under sections 336, 160, 427, 148,149 and 188 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The police have filed cancellation report in case of Bibi Jagir Kaur, while charge sheet is filed against Khaira,” he added.
Citing another instance, Bajwa said that in 2009 parliamentary polls, Congress workers were attacked by SAD workers led by Majithia near Talwandi Sabo, and a case under section 307 (attempt to murder) and Arms Act was registered, but the police filed ‘not traceable’ report in the court.
“Punjab Congress vice-president Gurpreet Singh Kangar was also booked under 307 of IPC, though he was not present at the spot. He is facing trial in the court,” he added.
“It is a clear case of political vendetta and belies Badal’s claims that he is against political vendetta. Badal is using different yardsticks for different political parties,” said Bajwa, while seeking withdrawal of false cases against Congress leaders registered during election process.