EC move to shift IG biased, will seek review, says Capt

CHANDIGARH: The Election Commission’s decision to shift IG Kunwar Vijay Pratap out of the SIT probing the Behbal Kalan and Kotkapura firing cases has led to a political slugfest. While the ruling Congress and the main Opposition Aam Aadmi Party have backed the officer, the Akali Dal, on whose complaint the officer has been shifted, has supported the EC move.

Capt Amarinder Singh, Chief Minister

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 9

The Election Commission’s decision to shift IG Kunwar Vijay Pratap out of the SIT probing the Behbal Kalan and Kotkapura firing cases has led to a political slugfest. While the ruling Congress and the main Opposition Aam Aadmi Party have backed the officer, the Akali Dal, on whose complaint the officer has been shifted, has supported the EC move.

Capt Amarinder said the state government would ask the EC to review its decision. He said the move had exposed a nexus between the BJP-SAD and the EC. Agitated over what he termed as a “biased order”, the Chief Minister said he had found the EC order, issued in response to a complaint by an Akali Dal leader, tantamount to being direct interference in the investigation into the police firing incidents and had decided to ask the EC to reconsider the matter in the interest of justice and constitutional propriety.

The SIT’s probe into the cases of sacrilege and police firing has been one of the poll planks against the Akalis, said the CM.

Meanwhile, AAP too announced that it would appeal to the EC to revoke its decision. Party’s state convener Bhagwant Mann said the transfer was politically motivated.

He said the sacrilege issue and the injustice to firing victims and Punjab government’s failure to arrest the culprits was an emotive issue among the masses and the IG was doing a fair probe into the matter.

Bir Devinder Singh of the SAD (Taksali) alleged that the order was a clear indication of partisanship, in utter disregard of religious sentiments of the Sikh community all over the globe. He said the IG’s transfer had dashed the hopes of a fare probe into the most crucial matter concerning the entire Sikh community.

Sukhpal Singh Khaira, MLA and president of the Punjabi Ekta Party (PEP), has strongly condemned the removal of the police officer from the SIT. He demanded immediate cancellation of such “dictatorial” orders.

Khaira alleged that the EC had become party to a political conspiracy hatched by the SAD in connivance with the BJP to remove Kunwar Vijay Partap Singh in the name of model code of conduct.

Bathinda: Bargari Insaf Morcha and Akal Takht parallel Jathedar Dhian Singh Mand served an ultimatum of one week on the EC to reinstate the IG. He said the move was aimed at hampering the SIT probe. Addressing a press conference here today, Mand said Kunwar's transfer had added insult to the injury of the Sikhs. He said they would submit a memorandum to the EC in Delhi on April 12, seeking his reinstatement.