Sending across a clear message that indiscipline in the party would not be tolerated, Punjab Congress on Wednesday suspended its Zira MLA Kulbir Singh Zira from the primary membership of the party for his recent outburst against the state’s Congress Government.
Undeterred, Zira made it clear that he would continue his fight against the illegal liquor business against which he had raise his voice during a public function. Punjab Congress president Sunil Jakhar informed that Zira has been suspended from the party as he had “violated the party discipline”.
Notably, past week, Zira had raised his voice against the illicit liquor trade which was going on in his area with the alleged support of some police officers, including an IG rank officer.
His outburst against his own government came during an oath-taking ceremony of newly-elected sarpanches (village heads) and panches which he decided to boycott in protest against “no action” being taken against bootlegging in Ferozepur district. “Zira has been suspended from Congress membership for indiscipline till further notice. His reply to show-cause notice was not found satisfactory,” said Jakhar.
He said that the party’s state leadership and high command has taken a very serious note of this “gross indiscipline for undermining the effort made by the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and Congress Government in terms of containing drugs, and especially law and order in Punjab”.
Jakhar said that Zira should have raised this issue at the party forum or with the Chief Minister of the DGP, ‘but speaking against the government in a public function is not accepted”.
The state party president maintained that Zira had met DGP and submitted all allegations, and the DGP had earmarked it to different authorities. “Impartial inquiry would be conducted into Zira’s allegations, and whoever involved will be acted against as per the rule of law,” he said.
Surprised by his suspension, Zira declared that he would continue his fight against the corrupt officials claiming that the charges have been levelled on the basis of the facts. Maintaining that Jakhar has taken the decision “under some pressure”, Zira pointed that he was suspended without giving his a chance of hearing. Notably, many MLAs have earlier gone public against the Congress government’s performance, but no action has been taken against them.