Firing incidents: Capt vows to go at Badal hammer & tongs

Says Akalis playing into hands of Pakistan’s ISI; accuses former CM of manufacturing lies, dares him for debate on sacrilege and firing incidents

Badal was trying to divert public attention from his role in the incident. It was not possible that Badal was not aware of the police firing. How is it possible that the chief minister did not know? CAPT AMARINDER SINGH, chief minister

CHANDIGARH: Holding his predecessor Parkash Singh Badal squarely responsible for Kotkapura and Behbal Kalan police firing incidents, chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Tuesday vowed “to go at the Akali patron hammer and tongs and fix him”.

Amarinder dismissed Badal’s statement that he was ready to swear that he did not know about the police firing as a “gimmick”.

He said Badal was trying to divert public attention from his role in the incident.

“It was not possible that Badal was not aware of the police firing. How is it possible that the CM did not know? Former DGP Sumedh Singh Saini had clearly stated before the Justice Ranjit Singh (retd) Commission that Badal had asked him to disperse the crowd forcibly. said Amarinder

“As per the commission’s findings, 22 calls were made to Badal before the firing took place. If something happens in my state, then as CM I cannot take refuge in such lies and should be thrown out if I am not aware of what is happening right under my nose,” Amarinder told select mediapersons in New Delhi.

However, in the report, the Ranjit panel has only stated that Badal called up Saini at 2am on October 14, 2015, the day the two firing incidents took place. Saini is not quoted as saying in the report that Badal asked him to disperse the crowd forcibly.

Pointing out that Badal did not even take action on the findings of the Justice Zora Singh (retd) Commission, which was set up by his own government to investigate these incidents, the CM added: “A certain legal procedure needs to be followed if the police needs to open fire to control a crowd, which was clearly not done. Killing of peaceful protesters was aimed at creating strife and tension in the state. The way the people were fired at was horrific.”

Again calling Badal an “expert liar and outright coward”, Amarinder dared him to open a debate on sacrilege and firing incidents.

The CM said Badal is used to running away whenever he has to face the people, and recalled that when Sikhs were under attack at the time of Operation Bluestar, the former Akali Dal chief had “run away” to Uttar Pradesh.

“The people of Punjab are fully aware of the Badals’ strategy of inciting communal clashes in the state ahead of any election. Akalis were playing into the hands of Pakistan’s ISI, which wanted to disturb Punjab’s peace,” he added.

On the resignation threat of AAP leader HS Phoolka, the CM said he was indulging in “cheap gimmicks” to remain in public limelight.

“A special investigation team (SIT) is being set up to probe the sacrilege and firing incidents. It needs to be given time to get to the bottom of the matter. Its report will go to the courts and truth would come out. The decision to withdraw the investigation from the CBI and hand it over to SIT was taken by the state assembly, which felt that NDA government at the Centre could influence the central agency as BJP was an ally of the SAD,” he said.

The Ranjit Singh Commission set up to probe the sacrilege cases and firing incidents at Behbal Kalan and Kotkapura had suggested further investigation, which was why the SIT is being set up, the CM said.

Amarinder also defended his government’s move to bring a new blasphemy law saying it was aimed at ensuring that the state’s peace was maintained at all costs.

‘PUNJAB PLAYERS MOVING TO OTHER STATES, SAYS CM

On the record tally of India at the Asian Games, Amarinder said there was a need to patronise sportspersons more aggressively and his government was working to tackle the financial constraints that were preventing this. “Sportspersons from Punjab had been moving to other states due to lack of facilities,” he said, vowing to take every step to bring them back.