AKALI DAL: BADAL CAN’T APPEAR BEFORE SIT DUE TO ILL HEALTH

CHANDIGARH: Former Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal will not appear before the special investigation team (SIT), probing the 2015 Kotkapura police firing incident, on June 16 due to health reasons, Shiromani Akali Dal leader Daljit Singh Cheema said on Monday.

The SIT had summoned the 93-year-old Akali leader, asking him to appear before it with “relevant records” on Wednesday at a resthouse in Mohali.

Cheema said Badal had a check-up at Aiims-bathinda and he would not be able to appear before the SIT due to health reasons. “It is not possible (to appear) on June 16 due to medical reasons. When his condition improves, he will definitely cooperate with the SIT,” he said.

A written communication from Badal’s side in this regard will be sent to the SIT, said the Shiromani Akali Dal spokesperson. Badal was the chief minister when the sacrilege and subsequent police firing incidents took place in Faridkot in 2015.

The state formed the new SIT led by Additional Director General of Police L K Yadav to probe the Kotkapura police firing incident following the directions of Punjab and Haryana High Court.

The new SIT is investigating the two FIRS registered on October 14, 2015 and August 7, 2018 in connection with the Kotkapura incident.