Need for time-bound justice in rape cases, says minister

Our Correspondent

Phagwara, December 7

Union Minister of State Som Parkash condemned the rape incidents at a press conference that was held at local Rest house here today. But when asked about the police encounter of four rapists in Telangana, the minister said: “If it is a real encounter it is appreciable but truth will be revealed after a high-level inquiry.”

He stressed on the need for time-bound justice in rape cases. Replying to another question, Som Parkash was not agreed with the statement of the Chief Minister (CM) Capt Amarinder Singh who said he considered Mohali as the capital of Punjab. Parkash said the BJP was in favour of the claim of Punjab at Chandigarh. He said both Punjab and Haryana were putting claims on Chandigarh and both the governments had submitted affidavits in this regard. He expressed his confidence that the dispute could be solved soon by the Modi-led government.

When his attention was drawn towards the delaying tactics adopted by the BJP-led Union Government to release the share of GST of Punjab, the minister quipped and asked the Congress-led government whether the funds released to Punjab by the Union Government had been used at the right place. He alleged that the state government was diverting the funds sent by the Union Government.

The Union Minister said the path would soon be given to Khalwara, Palahai and Bhularai villages on the Phagwara-Chandigarh Express Highways. SAD leader Sarwan Singh Kular, BJP leader Rakesh Duggal and Arun Khosla (Mayor, MC ,Phagwara) were also present on the occasion.

He said the Phagwara-Hoshiarpur road would soon be widened by spending Rs 33 crore. Parkash, however, avoided commenting on the Rajoana case.