Khaira loses cool, lashes out at Capt
CHANDIGARH: The ongoing audio clip controversy took an ugly twist when leader of opposition Sukhpal Khaira launched a no-holds-barred attack on Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Wednesday, using intemperate language and taking swipes at his private life.
The AAP leader flew off the handle after the Punjab assembly passed a resolution against Lok Insaaf Party (LIP) MLAS, Balwinder Bains and Simarjeet Bains, who released the audio clip of an alleged attempt to bribe a judge in a drug case against Khaira, and requested the chief justice of Punjab and Haryana HC to take suo motu notice and action in the matter.
An emotionally charged Khaira led a walkout of AAP and LIP members from the House and held an impromptu press conference in the press room where he made disparaging remarks against the chief minister and a journalist friend of his from Pakistan.
Khaira, who has repeatedly accused the state government of framing him in the controversial drug case, broke down, alleging a conspiracy to “eliminate me politically and physically”. AAP MLAS, Kanwar Sandhu and Aman Kumar Arora, who were flanking Khaira, tried to calm him down,
› ‘KHAIRA HAS LOST HIS MIND’ Khaira is overstepping... he is a badmouth and that is the reason why he hurled abuses at me and said many other things. CAPT AMARINDER SINGH, Punjab CM
but he snubbed them. “Let me say what I feel. I am not overstepping. I am stating facts only,” he insisted.
Continuing his outburst against the CM, Khaira, who has been making headlines for his hectoring attacks on rivals, used several unprintable words. “By passing the resolution against the two MLAS, Capt has tried to obstruct the justice in a
false case against me,” he said.
On being questioned about use of swear words by Khaira, Sandhu and some other AAP leader called it an “emotional outburst” and “unintentional reaction”. Sandhu apologised on his behalf, but Khaira did not show any remorse. Simarjeet Bains even defended him, asking the mediapersons what else they were expecting from a person falsely framed in the case.
LEADER OF OPPN’S DISPARAGING REMARKS COME AFTER HOUSE PASSES A RESOLUTION AGAINST BAINS BROTHERS WHO RELEASED THE CLIP
While the AAP-LIP members are still to decide their next strategy on the resolution passed by the state assembly, the subsequent flare-up, particularly his language, triggered by it has caused disquiet in a section of the party. The resolution moved by parliamentary affairs minister Brahm Mohindra, which caught most members on treasury benches unawares, strongly condemned the “wrongful involvement” and “scandalous allegations” made against the judge for “political purposes and vested motives.”
“The House would urge and request the chief justice to take further action as required in the case which amounts to nothing short of impairing the majesty of law, obstructing the administration of justice and lowering the image and dignity of the court and its honourable judges,” it read.