SGPC chief-SAD councillor row fails to die down
Mohit Khanna
Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, August 4
The row between SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar and SAD councillor Kawaljit Singh Karwal fails to end with both leaders declining to relent from their stand.
As both sides are missing no chances to mount pressure, the police officials are finding themselves in a tight spot. While 50 SGPC members submitted a memo to Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Naveen Singla yesterday and demanded registration of case against Karwal, the SAD councillor along with his supporters met senior SAD leader Maheshinder Singh Grewal and apprised him of his side of the story last evening.
However, both sides remained quiet today and did not rake up the issue.
Pritpal Singh Pali, president of Dukh Niwaran Gurudwara, reportedly cancelled his proposed visit to the Mini Secretariat today.
Yesterday, Pali had stated that he along with his 200 supporters would submit a memorandum to DCP Naveen Singla if no action was taken against Karwal.
Sources said Deputy Chief Minister returned from his foreign trip yesterday and took a meeting, following which both groups (Makkar and Karwal) were told to stop the scathing attack on each other, which was causing embarrassment for the party.
On the other hand, Makkar and Karwal’s political opponents were leaving no stone unturned to take a jibe on the issue. Some leaders have taken the route of social media to settle their score with the politician. Chairman Political and Economic Cell Ishwarjot Singh Cheema said SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar’s situation was of a toothless tiger, who has failed miserably in getting the case registered against SAD councillor Karwal.
On the other hand, president District Congress Committee (DCC-Urban) Gurpreet Singh Goggi said Karwal was in a habit of courting one controversy after another. First he assaulted sub-registrar GS Benipal and now he was being sheltered ever since he joined SAD.
Yesterday, the police registered a case under Section 295-A, 500 and 501 of the IPC against Baljinder Singh Jindu, a close aide of Karwal.
A faction led by Makkar said Karwal had hurled abuses at Avtar Singh Makkar on July 29 during the interview process of recruiting lecturers at Guru Nanak Engineering (GNE) College.
It was said Karwal wanted a woman, whom he took along for an interview, to be selected as a lecturer. When Makkar refused, Karwal got irritated and allegedly hurled abuses at him, the SGPC delegation said.
