Bittu raises issue of assault on Sikh driver in Lok Sabha

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 21

Congress MP from Ludhiana Ravneet Singh Bittu today clashed with the presiding officer in the Lok Sabha when the officer said the issue of assault on a Sikh driver in Delhi’s Mukherjee Nagar was a state issue.

“Is this a state issue? Who control the Delhi Police? Don’t you even know that the Union Home Ministry controls the Delhi Police?” Bittu said to Gujarat BJP MP Kiritbhai Solanki, who was in the chair during the zero hour. Solanki was filling in for Speaker Om Birla who was away for an official engagement.

There was a ruckus in the House when Solanki cut Bittu short. “Will you now crush the voice of minorities? I am speaking about an article of faith about my religion. The incident was reprehensible because the Delhi Police beat up an innocent Sarabjit Singh and his minor son after the duo refused to pay them extortion money,” Bittu said.

The Congress MP from Punjab said Sarabjit Singh is 60 years’ old and his son only 16.

“The two most important articles of faith for any Sikh are his hair and turban. Both were tossed around by the Delhi Police. We want to ask Union Minister Harsimrat Badal what did she do about this?” Bittu said in Lok Sabha.