‘Akali-bjp supporters booked in false cases at Jakhar’s behest’

CHANDIGARH: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Tuesday alleged that the police in Abohar have registered false cases against Akali and BJP supporters at the behest of Punjab congress chief Sunil Jakhar.

He presented daughters of businessman Mohinder Bathla who alleged that false cases have been registered against the entire family members and their land and property have been usurped. Bathla’s daughter Saloni said the situation had become such that the family was thinking of leaving Punjab.

Sukhbir also presented family of Suresh Sateeja, who according to him, was handcuffed and paraded for two hours in the Abohar market to humiliate him for supporting a BJP candidate. Sateeja’s son Amit said his family members were threatened with dire consequences.

Sunil Goyal, who is a councillor from Abohar, alleged he spent five months in jail due to a false case registered against him at Jakhar’s behest.

Sukhbir said the party would also approach the Punjab and Haryana high court and demand an inquiry against Jakhar. He sought CBI inquiry to examine Jakhar’s role in the large number of false cases registered in Abohar.

HE IS PRESENTING SPURIOUS PESTICIDE SELLERS AS VICTIMS: JAKHAR

Hitting back at Sukhbir’s statements against him at the press conference, Jakhar said he was “indulging in low grade politics by siding with spurious fertiliser sellers, who were also supporting gangsters”.

“Sukhbir is supporting those who are booked for meeting gangsters in jails during the tenure of his own government. These people are also threatening the witnesses in connivance with the gangsters. The police already had recordings of these threats. By presenting them as victims, Sukhbir is bringing sheer dishonour to his party position,” said Jakhar.

He said the SAD chief had forgotten that during his rule, the entire cotton crop of farmers in Malwa belt had perished due to spurious seeds, pesticides and insecticides. “The law is taking its course against anti-social elements without any bias,” he said.

Reacting to the allegations, Jakhar said: “Even I demand a CBI inquiry into the cases they are referring to.”

Speaking about Sateeja, Jakhar said he was supplying spurious pesticides to farmers so Sukhbir instead of standing by the family should stand for cause of farmers.

He added that a criminal case against Sateeja was registered when Sukhbir was the deputy CM. On case against Bathla, Jakhar said a case was registered against him under Section 323 of IPC on the complaint by a tehsildar.