CHANDIGARH: The Punjab police, came under sharp criticism from the Opposition during zero hour and debate on the motion of thanks to the Governor in the Vidhan Sabha.

The entire Opposition staged walk out during zero hour on different issues including the functioning of the police.

It was Vijay Kumar Sathi (JD) who drew the attention of the House to the police high handedness against Farsem Jodhan (CPM). He said the Station Police Officer of Dehlon even withdrew his security. Jodhan said he apprehended threat to his life. He walked into the well of the House but Inter withdrew. The CPI, Civil, JD and Akali Dal members walked out shouting slogans at that stage.

The Bahujan Samaj Party also stated a walk out protesting against the police behavior in some other cases and refusal of the Speaker to allow them. The Bharatiya Janata Party members also walked out protesting against the non-payment of salaries to the staff of the Punjab State Leather Development Corporation. The issue was raised by Mrs. Luxmi Kanta Chawla. Later during the resumed debate on the Governor’s address, the CPI group leader, Mrs. Vimla Dang, impressed upon the government to address to the basic issues underlying the Punjab problems.

She said the pro-militant elements were now being seen on the Congress stages. She also dubbed the Shiromani. Gurdwara Parabandhak Committee president, Gurcharan Singh Tohra, senior Akali Dal leader, Simranjit Singh Mann and the dissident Congress MP, Jagmeet Singh Brar, as pro-Khalistanis. While appreciating the erstwhile Akali Dal (Badal) for rejecting the Amritsar Declaration, she said the Anandpur Sahib resolution was also secessionist.

Dr. Rattan Singh (Akali Dal) demanded a Supreme Court inquiry into the happenings in Punjab during the turbulent period alleging some senior Congress leaders were behind Dal Khalsa. He said military was the baby of the ruling party. Substantiating this charge, he said it was strange that 27 Akali Dal candidates in the aborted June, 1991 elections, which the Congress had decided to boycott, were gunned down while not a shot was fired when Congress participated in the February, 1992 election. He said the Beant Singh Government was not elected by the people but by the police.

Article extracted from this publication >> March 17, 1995