Cong MLA abuses staffer, audio viral

Ravi Dhaliwal

Tribune News Service

Bhoa (Pathankot), June 27

An audio clip, in which local Congress MLA Joginder Pal Singh is heard hurling Punjabi expletives at a Class 4 employee of the Irrigation Department, has gone viral.

Joginder Pal called up the employee, Parshotam Lal, after a woman complained to him that the latter had taken Rs 28,000 to regularise an encroachment at Kotli village near the banks of the Upper Bari Doab Canal (UBDC).

When Parshotam refuted the bribery allegations, the MLA threatened to get him transferred to Patiala.

The defiant employee told the legislator to do whatever he could do. This infuriated Joginder Pal, who then used derogatory language against Parshotam.

Former BJP MLA Seema Devi urged the Chief Minister to ask the MLA to resign. She said, “Being an elected representative, Joginder Pal should have exercised restraint while reprimanding the employee.”

Parshotam said he would file a complaint with Pathankot Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Vivek Sheel Soni after consulting his seniors.

Later, when questioned by mediapersons, Joginder Pal said: “When a Class 4 employee insults an MLA, what do you expect him to do? It is not possible for me to change my language. I’m not afraid of anybody.”