Following resignation, APS Deol accuses Navjot Sidhu of obstructing functioning of state govt and AG office

Asserts that Sidhu’s repeated utterances sought to derail the state government’s earnest efforts to ensure justice in the drugs matter and the sacrilege cases

APS Deol. File photo

Saurabh Malik

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 6

Less than a week after APS Deol resigned from Advocate-General’s post, the senior advocate on Saturday launched a scathing attack against Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu, accusing him of obstructing the functioning of the state government and the AG office.

In a press statement released on the AG’s letter pad, Deol—asked to continue till the new incumbent’s appointment—asserted that Sidhu’s repeated utterances sought to derail the state government’s earnest efforts to ensure justice in the drugs matter and the sacrilege cases.

“Navjot Singh Sidhu is spreading misinformation to gain political advantage over his political colleagues. There is a concerted attempt by vested interests to malign the functioning of the Congress party in view of coming elections in Punjab for their selfish political gain by politicising the constitutional office of the Advocate-General of Punjab.” Deol asserted.

This is, perhaps, the first time in recallable past that a serving AG has come out with a public statement against a senior leader of the party in power. Deol’s appointment ran into controversy following Sidhu’s objections to it. Sidhu on September 28, among other things, resigned as PPCC chief protesting against Deol’s appointment on the grounds that he was a defence lawyer for former DGP Sumedh Singh Saini and Paramraj Singh Umaranangal, both accused in the Behbal Kalan police firing case.

Sidhu did not initially withdraw his resignation despite meetings with Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and party representatives. He took back his resignation as Punjab Congress chief while adding that he would resume charge only after the state government replaced DGP IPS Sahota and Deol.

So far, the state government has not finalised Deol’s replacement, though names of a few senior advocates are being considered. Deol was appointed after the post fell vacant following Atul Nanda’s resignation soon after Capt Amarinder Singh stepped down as chief minister. The appointment had come as a surprise as incidents of sacrilege and subsequent police firing in Faridkot district’s Kotkapura and Behbal Kalan in 2015 had been politically sensitive. It had also led to a legal debate on the issue of conflict of interest primarily on the grounds that Deol, being Saini and Umaranangal’s counsel, would neither be able to appear nor advise the state in their cases and related matters. In an attempt to settle the storm, senior advocate RS Bains was appointed special public prosecutor.

Defending Bains’ appointment before the Punjab and Haryana High Court following the filing of a petition, the State of Punjab told the Bench that “only regular public prosecutor will appear before the trial court till the next date of hearing”.