Valtoha tops list of ‘erring’ Akalis

Jupinderjit Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 24

Former MLA Virsa Singh Valtoha tops the list of Akali leaders against whom complaints of political vendetta have been received by the Justice Mehtab Singh Gill (retd) Commission of Inquiry, which is probing “false” police cases registered during the 10-year SAD-BJP rule.

There are 82 complaints against Valtoha, known for his fiery speeches in the Assembly. Of these, 42 complainants have specifically named the former Khemkaran legislator for misusing the police for political ends. One of them is a Bhikhiwind-based worker of the BJP, alliance partner of the Akalis.

Former minister Bikram Singh Majithia, against whom 40 Congress MLAs had shot off letters to party president Sonia Gandhi – seeking action for “abuse of power” — is fifth on the list. These MLAs have even accused CM Capt Amarinder Singh of going soft on Majithia. The Akali leader has not been named by any complainant, but there is an allusion to him in 22 complaints from Majitha.

Sucha Singh Langah, ex-MLA from Dera Baba Nanak, is placed second. Of the 44 complaints against him, he is named in eight and indirectly referred to in the rest.

There are 42 complaints against former Irrigation Minister Janmeja Singh Sekhon. He has been named in four. Thirty-six of the complaints have been made by AAP workers, alleging frame-up due to political pressure by the “area leader”.

Former Rural Development Minister Sikander Singh Maluka is linked to 36 complaints, but only one complainant, Congress MLA Gurpreet Kangar, has mentioned his name.

The commission has already decided the case in favour of Kangar. Maluka had accused the Congress leader of opening fire at him, his son and supporters near the venue of an election rally. The commission ruled that the complaint was false and should be cancelled.

The commission is yet to summon any politician accused of vendetta.

Akali Dal spokesperson Daljit Singh Cheema said the commission’s constitution and actions were a political drama. “The commission seems to be trying to justify Capt Amarinder’s claims made during the elections about the allegedly poor law and order situation during our rule. They talked of thousands of cases, but despite having a panel set up by themselves, the number is only in dozens.” He said such a panel should have been headed by a sitting judge.