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Chandigarh, August 31: Here is an irony that is unprecedented in the religio-political dynamics of Punjab during the last about 40 years.
The Akali Dal leaders used to attend bhog ceremony of militants tortured and killed in fake encounters or otherwise by the security forces. The names that came to symbolise human rights violations the were that of officers like Gobind Ram, Ajit Singh Sandhu, Mohammad Izhar Alam and Sumedh Singh Saini.
First irony: The party that patronised officers like Alam and Saini was the Akali Dal when chief minister was Parkash Singh Badal.
Second Irony: These very officers were the heroes of the sections patronised by the Congress. Now it is the Congress that has raked up the violations associated with at least one of them-Sumedh Singh Saini.
This is Punjab’s compromised politics played by all the main stake holders.
One of the thrust areas in the articulation by Panchayats and Rural Development and Urban Development Minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa in the Assembly during debate on Justice Ranjit Singh Commission report was Saini.
The part of his speech in the Assembly on August 28 that demolished this officer who has now retired has been reproduced:
Panchayats Minister Bajwa:
Bureaucrats had colluded in vitiating Punjab. Saini’s name has surfaced repeatedly. I would like to cite four instances relating to him. Kulwant Singh was an advocate and human rights activist in Ropar. He, his wife and four month old child continue to be untraced. Then Jatana family was burnt alive in Ropar district. Police in plainclothes were sent with Poohla Nihang. The family had 80-82 year old to youngest six years old. All were burnt alive. Speaker Sahib, Mughals were oppressors. They tortured and killed Punjabis in 18 ways. They put people on killer wheels, boiled them alive and made them sit on burning sand but never burnt alive. This was the only Mughal who did not spare even a Colonel.
Then there was the worst of tragedies. This happened with a Ludhiana family, with Saini motors. This should not happen with any family. Three members of the family were kidnapped from the high court. Nothing is known about two brothers and their driver. (In the background: Brother of Manuke was also killed).
Speaker Sahib, some people advised me against naming Saini saying this might incense a section of society. Better you don’t annoy that section.
Speaker Sahib, I want to ask those who give me such advice that those who were kidnapped were Vinod Kumar, Ashok Kumar. To which section they belonged, who will get annoyed. Right Ashu Ji, Ludhiane waleo?
Food and Supplies Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu: None would mind.
Bajwa: Which section would get alienated. Then what happened next was all the more shocking. He took out his revolver and ordered his gunmen to molest women from that family in the police station. Speaker Sahib, they could have been my relatives, my mother, my sisters. Conscience does not allow to spare such killer. He spared none. He manhandled even DSPs in his office.
Speaker Sahib, one of these women was 80 year old, the name of the other was Shrimati Bala, to which section of society she belongs? Then Shrimati Rachna.
Why do they frighten us.
Side with the truth. If you don’t side with truth, you will repent.
Speaker Sahib, Mand is sitting on dharna these days. None should have any doubt that there is no other court than the worldly ones. There is the court of God.
Jathedar Mand is sitting on dharna today. Sidhu Sahib, I am going to narrate a true story. Mand’s father Ajaib Singh was detained in Mamdot police station. The name of SHO was Harbans Singh. In the morning, he took out Ajaib Singh from custody to where two dead bodies had been kept. Manpreet Ji, he told him to identify those bodies. He removed cloth from those bodies. Those were the bodies of his sons aged 14 and 16 years. He cursed the SHO saying you would beg for death that would not come to you (Keede Pai Ke Marenga).
Speaker Sahib, God has His own ways. That police official later got ill and worms started creeping on his body. He begged for death. Then he sent message to Mand seeking forgiveness and to pray for his death.
Mand told him to seek forgiveness at the Golden Temple. His body emanated foul smell, such was the rot but he was not dying. Speaker Sahib, God will not pardon these people.
Phoolka Ji, it is shameful that Indian judiciary from top to bottom has failed the people.
Bibi Amar Kaur waited endlessly for justice. (Quote from Patar).
She died waiting for justice. None listened to her. Phoolka Ji, you read out the next two lines to judges. The judiciary is portrayed with eyes covered on the plea that justice can’t see. Now the cloth covering the eyes has been removed. They think he is DGP, none can do anything to him.
Phoolka Ji, that old woman continued to appear in a Delhi court seeking justice. Then daughters of Ludhiana. Years back, Ludhiana produced a famous poet Sahib Ludhianvi. Manpreet Ji, he had written a sing for film Pyasa. Speaker Sahib, I will share a line from that. ‘Yeh Lut-te Hue karwan Zindagi Ke… Jinhen Naaz Hai Hind Par Who Kahan Haain.’
Manpreet : Madad Chahati Hai Yeh Havva Ji beti…Yashodha..Radha ki Beti’.
Bajwa: Zara Is Mulk Ke Rahbaron Ko Bulao, Zara Us Amar Kaur Da Ghar Taan Dikhao. Let us us go to the house of Amar Kaur and see the situation there. (Thumping). Does not the time demands it.
Today the policemen say who can dare arrest Saini. The person (official) who wants the chair (Of DGP) would arrest him (Thumping).
If he can’t, he should vacate that chair. (Thumping).
He would have to be arrested (Thumping). (Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akal).
Speaker Sahib, I too was warned that I should not speak against him as he is a very dangerous person and can damage me. He will damage your family.
(Quotes a couplet: Maut Ka Ek Din Moin Hai. Then a line from Gurnbani..Maran Likhai, Mandal Mah Aye’.
I am not afraid of death but it is must to stand with truth.
Speaker Sahib, when Amar Kaur went for the last hearing, Phoolka Sahib, she could not even speak. The judge went to her. She whispered in his ear praying for justice for the last time demanding da-to-day hearing. Perhaps the judge was deaf and did not hear her feeble voice. However, I can hear her. I am with her, she died at the age of 103. She passed away at the residence of her lawyer in Delhi, not at her own house. Her last words to her son was: “I have lost in this battle for life. You should continue the fight for justice”. I would get peace only when this killer is put behind bars. (Thumping). Brothers, the need of the hour is that we should join hands in the endeavour so that her soul gets peace. Even if there are 10 such killers, we should send them to jail.
Who is not arresting? I am ready to do it and if I am not able to arrest, I would resign from cabinet, resign from membership (Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akal). There are some coward bureaucrats who frighten us. Their intention is bad. People with such intentions should not be spared, not allowed to continue.
Speaker Sahib, I have taken enough time. In the last, I want to send a message to Badal Sahib through you. I here quote a couplet whose last line is like this: Is Ghar Ko Aag Lagi Ghar Ke Chirag Se”. The house got burnt with the fire started that got triggered from the lamp.
Their house is going to be burnt down, they have fallen in the eyes of the people, they are finished. Today, the entire world is looking to Captain Sahib, waiting for his decision (Thumping).
We would stand like a rock on whatever decision is taken by Captain Sahib. Captain Sahib, the live telecast is being watched by people in USA, Canada and entire world. Don’t let down today. You have to create history like you had done on river waters issue. Today you have to create history relating to justice. Please act.
Phoolka Sahib, the history of some is written in golden letters and the others in black letters. He himself is historian. His history too would be written by somebody. History of all the 117 members would be written, of those who have boycotted and those who are attending.
In the last, I again implore upon Capt Sahib that it is the collective will of the entire House to get rid of CBI. I maintain our police people are doing very well. They have performed well. Trust them and hand over everything (Probe) to them. Jai Hind.
