New Delhi, June 28
Demanding immediate arrest of Khalistan ideologue Jagjit Singh Chohan, Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh today said his arrival in Punjab could vitiate the atmosphere of peace in the state.
Blaming the Punjab Government and the Union Home Ministry for failing to take action against the separatist leader, Mr Amarinder accused Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal of playing the “Sikh card” with an eye on the forthcoming assembly polls in the state.
“Mr Badal is playing the Sikh card
because he has lost support of minority community and weaker sections in the state,’’ the PCC chief said.
He said while 200 policemen, including 18 officers, were languishing in jails, separatist leaders were being “welcomed.”
He said the state government had even failed to provide adequate defence to these policemen facing charges in connection with the discharging of their duties during the period of militancy.
Charging the Akali Dal leaders with “arranging” the return of former militants like Satnam Singh Paonta, the PCC chief alleged that Wassan Singh Zaffarwal, a member of the Panthic Committee, had been roaming in Chandigarh and enjoying hospitality of Punjab ministers before his arrest.
Accusing Mr Badal of “double-speak,” he said while the Chief Minister was publicly distancing himself from the issue of the return of former militants, his party was trying to seek their support. In this context, the PCC chief referred to a letter
purportedly written by Zaffarwal before the Majitha byelection declaring support to the SAD nominee.
Referring to the activities of Mr Chauhan in England, Mr Amarinder Singh said the separatist leader had declared a “reward” on the head of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. He had printed “Khalistani currency” and Khalistani’s maps, the PCC chief said.
Maintaining that people instigating violence were more guilty than the gun-totting youth, the PCC chief said the return of former militants to the state could provide Pakistan’s ISI ground for fishing in troubled waters. Questioning Akali Dal’s commitment to peace, Mr Amarinder Singh alleged that Mr Badal had, earlier in his career, taken part in some objectionable activities.
Congress leaders, including Mr H S Hanspal and Mr Gurmeet Singh Sodhi, said Mr Badal had also recently raised with the Prime Minister demand for the review of cases and release of “black-listed detenues” in Punjab jails.
