Aam Aadmi Party’s rebel MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira-convened ‘all-party-meeting’ to discuss the burning issue of sacrilege, though witnessed negligible participation from Punjab’s major political parties, on Friday further pressed for action against those “guilty and involved” in the incidents of desecration of holy Guru Granth Sahib, and related firing incidents.
The meeting, attended by AAP’s eight rebel MLAs, AAP’s ‘under suspension’ MP from Patiala Dr Dharamvira Gandhi, former Deputy Speaker of Punjab Vidhan Sabha Bir Devinder Singh, head and MLAs of Lok Insaaf Party (LIP) — Simarjeet Singh Bains and Balwinder Singh Bains, besides some Sikh leaders, among others, demanded inclusion of the names of former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, former Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal, and former Director General of Police (DGP) in the FIR for Kotkapura firing incident, and the trio be brought under probe.
In all, seven resolutions were passed in the meeting, which saw no participation by the ruling Congress, Shiromani Akali Dal, the Bharatiya Janta Party, and even the members of AAP, other than the rebels, also stayed away.
The meeting, convened to discuss the recommendations of Justice Ranjit Singh Commission report into sacrilege and related firing incidents, decided to take out a protest march on October 7 from Kotkapura Chowk — where the firing took place, and pass through Sarawan village, and join the Insaaf Morcha at Bargari village.
“It was decided that the people would participate in the protest march wearing black turbans and black dupattas to mount pressure on the government to act against the guilty,” said Khaira.
During the meeting, the leaders discussed and pressed for action against the accused of Behbal Kalan and Kotkapura firing incidents and the sacrilege cases. The meeting also decided to set up 11-member Action Committee to decide upon future course of action.
Khaira stressed on freeing the Sikh institutions from the control of the Badals, adding that along with this, the political interference in the religion should also be brought to an end.
“We have decided to mount pressure on the Capt Amarinder Singh Government to take action against the culprits of sacrilege cases at the earliest,” said Khaira demanding that the cases of firing incident and sacrilege be resolved promptly.
He accused the Capt Amarinder Government of suppressing the people’s feelings over the issue.
Khaira went on to accuse the Chief Minister of giving extension to the current state police chief Suresh Arora “to save the culprits of sacrilege cases”.
AAP MLA from Kharar Kanwar Sandhu said that the names of former DGP Sumedh Singh Saini, along with the names of Badal father-son duo, should also be included in the FIR and they should be arrested immediately in the case at Kotkapura and Behbal Kalan firing, adding that the meeting has passed a resolution demanding the same.
It was also decided that the meeting demanded that a prompt action be taken against all those who have been named in the Justice (retired) Ranjit Singh Commission’s report.
The meeting also decided to urge the Punjab Government to effectively contest the ongoing cases, related to the sacrilege and Justice Ranjit Singh Commission report, in the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
Without naming anyone, the Lok Insaaf Party MLA Simarjit Singh Bains condemned all those who have been dubbing the Sikh leaders protesting at Bargari demanding justice for the victims and punishment for culprits of sacrilege, as “ISI agents”.