Govt providing safe passage to accused cops, claims Khaira

CHANDIGARH: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) rebel leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira on Friday accused the Capt Amarinder Singh-led Congress government of providing “safe passage” to police officers and others in sacrilege and police firing cases in the state.

“The state government is in collusion with them and its attitude has been negative. The government is not opposing them in the court the way it should. These are serious cases .... this cannot happen without the government’s consent,” Khaira told reporters in a caustic attack on the Congress government at a press conference. Jaitu MLA Baldev Singh was also present.

Khaira’s remarks came after the proceedings against some policemen in cases related to the Justice Ranjit Singh Commission’s findings on incidents of sacrilege in Punjab in 2015 were stayed by the high court recently.

‘GOVT’S PRE-PLANNED STRATEGY’

Khaira, while terming the state government’s approach as “callous”, said the advocate general’s office which had 200 advocates was defunct. “This is a preplanned strategy,” he alleged.

The Bholath MLA accused CM Amarinder Singh of working at behest of the BJP government at the centre which is trying to protect leaders of its old ally, the Akali Dal. He asked the CM to make public details of his recent meeting with Union home minister Rajnath Singh.