SAD challenges Navjot Sidhu to prove his allegations

Chandigarh, September 6 – The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today termed the self styled indictment of the previous SAD- BJP government in handling of a congregation at Kotkapura by Local Bodies minister Navjot Sidhu as an example of opportunistic and mischievous politics and asked him to furnish proof and take action if there was an iota of truth in his wild allegations.

Reacting to Sidhu’s mindless rantings, former minister Bikram Singh Majithia said Sidhu was trying to prove something which was not even mentioned in the Ranjit Singh Commission report. He said the report specifically mentioned on page 50 that then chief minister S Parkash Singh Badal had directed the Faridkot district administration that the situation arising out of congregation collecting at Kotkapura should be handled with utmost sensitivity and resolved peacefully.

The Akali leader said Sidhu had apparently even forgotten that SIT chief Ranbir Singh Khatra was leading the police force which defused the situation in Kotkapura. He said Khatra was even commended for this. Sidhu was also part of earlier SAD-BJP dispensation. He never spoke out against Khatra. He should now specify if Khatra acted properly or not. He also pointed out that after a majority of the people had been dispersed peacefully there was an altercation which was also handled and defused without any casualty.

Mr Majithia said it was condemnable that someone who was consorting with the like of 1984 massacre perpetrators Sajjan Kumar and Jagdish Tytler and was a disciple of Asaram Bapu and Radhe Maa was questioning the conduct of five times chief minister Sardar Parkash Singh Badal. He said Sardar Badal had a track record of upholding the highest principles of Sikhism and had always stood by the Sikh Panth whenever in crisis. He said Sidhu was making wild allegations against Sardar Badal despite the fact that the Ranjit Singh Commission had not said one word against him. He said even the Action Taken Report did not mention anything against the former CM. “Has Sidhu done some separate inquiry? If he has has any proof against the earlier government why didn’t he present it in the Vidhan Sabha? Has he misled the assembly ? He should clarify”.

Stating that Sidhu always practiced opportunistic politics, Mr Majithia said earlier Sidhu and his wife had enjoyed the trappings of power for ten years as part of the SAD- BJP combine. He said now Sidhu after joining the Congress was in a hurry to become chief minister and was playing cheap politics to press for removal of Capt Amarinder Singh as chief minister. “This shows his true character”, he added.