Centre ready for NIA probe if Punjab govt recommends: Sirsa
MANSA: The Centre is ready for a probe into the killing of Sidhu Moose Wala by central agencies, such as the National Investigation Agency (NIA), if the Punjab government recommends it, BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa said on Sunday, a day after the singer-politician’s parents met Union home minister Amit Shah and raised the demand.
“I want to make it clear that the central agencies cannot take over the probe without the approval of the state government,” Sirsa, who met the grieving parents at Moosa village on Sunday, said. Sirsa said that the Punjab government should agree to hand over the probe to the NIA as it has the best resources.
“If the government recommends, the NIA will take over the probe as soon as possible. Home minister Amit Shah will soon talk with Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on this matter,” he said.
Sirsa said that downgrading of Moose Wala’s security by the state government was a big mistake. “The murder shows that the Punjab Police, including the intelligence wing, failed,” the BJP leader said.
Meanwhile, in a letter written to the CM on Sunday, even leader of opposition Partap Singh Bajwa demanded that the probe be transferred to central agencies for a “fair and impartial investigation” and to ensure justice to the family.
Culprits will be behind bars soon: Sandhwan
Punjab Vidhan Sabha speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan also met the singer’s family. He said that the state investigation agencies have been directed to probe the case expeditiously and soon culprits will be put behind the bars. Cabinet minister Baljit Kaur and AAP MLA from Lambi Gurmeet Singh Khuddiaan also met the family.
A number of political leaders, actors and singers visited Moosa to meet Moose Wala’s family. They included former union minister and senior Congress leader Kumari Selja, BJP MP and singer Hans Raj Hans, actor Guggu Gill, singer and actor Nimrat Khaira and Surinder Shinda. Selja said the murder was a living example of the deteriorating law and order situation in Punjab.