Hindustan Times (Chandigarh)

Khaira loses cool, lashes out at Capt

- HT Correspond­ent

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, 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

 ?? HT PHOTO ?? Leader of opposition Sukhpal Khaira during a press conference at the Vidhan Sabha in Chandigarh on Wednesday.
HT PHOTO Leader of opposition Sukhpal Khaira during a press conference at the Vidhan Sabha in Chandigarh on Wednesday.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from India