Capt lashes at vested interests in politicising sensitive issues

| | Chandigarh
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Capt lashes at vested interests in politicising sensitive issues

Tuesday, 16 October 2018 | PNS | Chandigarh

Lashing out at vested political interests seeking to politicise a sensitive issue, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Monday made it clear that registering cases against guilty in sacrilege and related firing cases and taking the matter to trial court is now the responsibility of the special investigation team (SIT) constituted to probe these cases.

“SIT is an independent body, comprising senior and experienced officials, and it should be allowed to do its work,” said Capt Amarinder while reaffirming his resolve to punish those behind the sacrilege and police firing.

He said that constituting a SIT was the unanimous decision of the House including Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), though Akalis had then ran away.

The Chief Minister made it clear that the SIT was on its job of investigating the Bargari and other incidents but “under the law, I cannot interfere in its functioning.” The SIT was fully cognisant of the sensitivity and urgency of the matter and would not delay its investigations, he said, declaring that the SIT would move the courts for action if they find any ground for action against anyone.

Responding to allegations from all quarters on “deliberately delaying” action against those guilty, he asserted that there was no question of backing out of his promise to bring to book the culprits of Bargari sacrilege case and the subsequent incidents of firing at Behbal Kalan and Kotkapura.

At the same time, he rejected allegations of the situation in Bargari getting out of control saying that his government was fully equipped to deal with it. “Everyone knew that some people are trying to politicise the issue but the people of the state wanted peace and would not get carried away by the attempts of such elements to take political mileage from it,” he said.

Capt Amarinder observed that Justice Ranjit Singh Commission, in its report, had clearly stated that it was only a fact-finding report and further investigations were required. “We have picked the best professional SIT team for the probe,” he said.

Coming down heavily on those taking political advantage out of situation, Capt Amarinder said that he, and even Congress national president Rahul Gandhi, had visited Behbal Kalan soon after the incident. “Our Ministers are in contact with the families of the deceased, we paid them compensation beyond what the Commission recommended. Even yesterday, the Ministers and Congress MLAs had gone to the house of the deceased to attend their bhog while others were merely indulging in political games, sitting on the stage,” he said.

“At Bargari, none of the families of those killed in police firing were present. The families of the two youths organised bhog ceremonies at their respective villages, where our Ministers were present,” he added.

‘NOT ALL KASHMIRI STUDENTS TERRORIST’

Admitting that ISI had, for long, been active in Punjab, Capt Amarinder said that the Pak intelligence agency could be operating through Kashmiri students. At the same time, he maintained that we have many students from Kashmir studying in various colleges across state and every student from Kashmir was not a terrorist. The police had, so far, not established any links of the arrested students with locals, he added.

STUBBLE BURNING: BOUND BY LAW TO ACT

Expressing his sympathies with the state’s farmers, the Chief Minister said that the Government was bound by law to take action against those indulging in burning of paddy straw as per NGT orders.

“I have written to the Prime Minister twice, Agriculture Minister, seeking Rs 100 per quintal compensation for farmers to manage stubble, but they have failed to respond to our repeated pleas,” he said.

ISREAL VISIT: FOUR MOUs TO BE SIGNED

Chief Minister also announced his plans to visit Israel next week to have meaningful discussions on issues of mutual interest, including signing an MoU to further strengthen the special operations group (SOG).

Punjab would seek greater cooperation with Israel on homeland security and training of police personnel, he said, while adding that other areas would be innovative methods of farming, besides water conservation and irrigation, livestock development, horticulture and food processing.

FUEL PRICES: WOULD WAIT AND WATCH TILL MONTH END

Saying that the government has not yet taken any decision on reducing fuel prices, he said that they would wait till the month end to see the trend of international fuel prices and then take a call on the issue as international prices were fluctuating.

He lamented that all the key sources of the state’s income, except petrol and excise, were in the Central Government’s control.

WANT SGPC FREE OF BADALS, BUT DON’T SUPPORT RADICALS

Maintaining that he want the SGPC free of the Badals, Chief Minister said that he would never allow radicals to gain control over the Sikh mini parliament.

“I would support any moderate group of Sikhs to get control of the SGPC, as I want the Badals out of it...They have ruined the Gurdwaras,” he said, adding that as far as Badal was concerned, he was no moderate but an opportunist who uses people of all shades to meet his political ends.

He also warned the radicals against trying to disturb the hard-earned peace of Punjab.

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