PHAGWARA: The former Union home minister, Buta Singh, maintained that a security lapse on the part of the Punjab government led to Giani Zail Singh meeting with an accident and said that if he did not survive, it would be a blot on the state government. ‘Talking to media persons at the residence of his nephew and former minister, Joginder Singh Mann here, he said he was one of three senior most parliamentarians and had every right to highlight the gravity of lapses, including the absence of “Z” security for the former president. — Buta Singh said he had not accused any particular person but the Chief Minister, Beant Singh, responded from his hospital bed without reading the text of his speech in Parliament on the mishap. He said the former president’s daughter had told him that the door of Giani’s car could not be opened for 20 minutes and a mechanic had to be requisitioned ta open it. He said he prayed for the life of the Giani, who he claimed, was being kept alive on various support systems but added if anything happened to him, it would be a blot on the Punjab government and administration.
Article extracted from this publication >> December 23, 1994
