‘False’ cases: Over 350 Akalis complain against own leaders

Jupinderjit Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 21

The two-member Commission of Inquiry, set up by the Congress government to probe “false” cases registered during the 10-year SAD-BJP rule, has received about 350 complaints by Akali workers against top leaders of their own party.

About 10 per cent of the 3,500-odd complaints received so far are from SAD workers. Sources said these complainants alleged that they were victims of infighting.

The commission is headed by Justice Mehtab Singh Gill (retd), while Justice BS Mehndiratta (retd) is its member. The government had constituted the panel on May 7 on the demand of Congress workers, who alleged that they were victims of political vendetta unleashed by SAD-BJP leaders in the past decade.

Members of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and other political parties have also approached the commission for action and compensation.

“The complaints are still pouring in. The deadline is July 31. Our mandate is to receive complaints of any false case, not necessarily political vendetta,” said an official working for the commission.

The commission has a six-month tenure, which can be extended. It is learnt that the two retired Judges have recorded the evidence in about 100 cases. “An interim report would be sent to the government by mid-August,” said a commission official. He added that the cases in which the trial was underway in various courts were not being dealt with by the commission as of now. “These cases would remain on hold till a verdict is announced,” the official added.

The SAD has already rejected the commission. Party president Sukhbir Singh Badal has alleged that Akali workers are being victimised ever since the Congress came to power.

Dr Daljit Singh Cheema, SAD spokesperson, said the Congress government should focus on stopping the witch-hunt of Akali workers rather than trying to give a political colour to past cases.