Send CM on leave till bypoll: Khaira to EC

JALANDHAR: Accusing Punjab chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh of intimidating police officers and indulging in telephone tapping of opposition leaders to influence the May 28 Shahkot assembly byelection, leader of Opposition in state assembly Sukhpal Singh Khaira on Tuesday urged the Election Commission (EC) to ‘send the CM on leave’ till the completion of bypoll.

“I have also urged the EC to appoint a protem chief minister in Punjab till the model code of conduct is in place so that Capt Amarinder doesn’t misuse the police and civil administration to influence the byelection,” the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader said while addressing a press conference here.

Khaira said that in his complaint to the EC and the chief electoral officer, Punjab, he has also requested the poll panel to transfer Jalandhar SSP Gurpreet Singh Bhullar for “working under political pressure”.

He alleged that CM is blatantly misusing his official authority and the police machinery to influence the outcome of the bypoll, especially after Mehatpur SHO Parminder Singh Bajwa booked Congress candidate Hardev Singh Ladi Sherowalia and others, for illegal mining.

Khaira said Bhullar pressured the SHO to withdraw his resignation and sent him on a forced leave for two days, which was later extended to five days as they don’t want the SHO to investigate the illegal mining case against Ladi.

“Shockingly, the CM termed the FIR against Ladi as politically motivated and blamed opposition leaders, including me, and produced telephone call details of former SAD minister Daljit Singh Cheema and mine,” he said.

A protem CM should be appointed so that Capt Amarinder doesn’t misuse the police and civil administration to influence the byelection. SUKHPAL SINGH KHAIRA, leader of opposition