Sec 307 against Akalis stands: Jakhar

Aparna Banerji

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, December 10

State Congress president Sunil Jakhar today said the cases registered against SAD leaders under Section 307 (attempt to murder)of the IPC and for holding dharna and disrupting traffic on the national highway still stand and won’t be withdrawn.

In response to the former Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal’s dare to the Punjab Government to arrest him and the other Akali leaders, Jakhar said, “Due process of law will be followed in the cases.”

Questioned on the Ferozepur DIG’s claim that the cases filed under Section 307 would be cancelled, Jakhar said, “That cannot be done, it is wrong. The CM has marked an inquiry to the crime department on the issue. There is very strong evidence and videos of the action. Hundreds of people were inconvenienced, traffic disrupted and police officials threatened. Sukhbir Badal has been the Deputy Chief Minister and the Home Minister. He knows such cases aren’t just cancelled.”

The state Congress chief was addressing a press conference and was accompanied by Local Bodies Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu. MLAs Pargat Singh, Rajinder Beri and Sukhwinder Singh Randhawa were also present.

Sidhu said, “It is my personal appeal to the CM that the guilty be punished. Any police official unduly pardoning the guilty is liable to be punished.”

Jakhar equated the incident with the Behbal Kalan firing which took place during the Akali government’s tenure. “Apna pichokar jhaak ke dekho (look into your own past). Then, the so-called panthic government had even included carrying of ‘kirpans’ as an offence punishable under the Arms Act.”

He said, “Sukhbir Badal has forgotten the exigencies committed during his own time and merely raking up the issue since certain well-heeled Akalis had cases against them. He should formally apologise. The ‘kamau putt’of the Akalis — those with serious charges like mining and selling of ‘chitta’ — are being shielded with this dharna.”