The Punjab Assembly Speaker
here today formed a House Committee to probe SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal's allegations that Chief Minister Amarinder Singh had met Sikh preacher Baljit Singh Daduwal at the former's residence here.
Badal has alleged that Daduwal had met the chief minister a day before Justice (retd) Ranjit Singh Commission report on sacrilege incidents was tabled in the Assembly.
Acceding to the request of the chief minister, who was also supported by AAP MLAs on the issue, Speaker Rana K P Singh constituted the panel under the chairmanship of cabinet minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa.
Intervening in the issue raised by SAD members, Amarinder Singh accused the SAD president of misleading the House by furnishing wrong information.
Shortly before the debate on the Justice (retd) Ranjit Singh Commission report, tabled in the House yesterday, got underway in the Assembly today, SAD MLAs stormed the Well of the House and flung copies of the report in the air.
Also Read
They had flung copies of the report in the air yesterday outside the Assembly, after the chief minister alleged that the SAD was misleading the House. Later, the Akalis also staged a walkout.
Badal had also alleged that mobile calls were exchanged between some Congress ministers, Daduwal, AAP leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira and some others.
Reiterating his charge in the Assembly today, the SAD president asked, "For what reasons Daduwal had gone to CM's residence on Sunday night."
"CM Sahab you are very senior to me, I am very junior to you, but you must answer... You also send your ministers to meet Daduwal, hold meetings. Who are these people, they are Khalistan sympathisers... conspiracies are now being exposed."
However, the chief minister accused the Akalis of spreading misinformation and said, "I had said yesterday also to check all CCTVs in and around CM's residence, is there any truth in your allegations. They (Akalis) have become master of disinformation in the House."
The mobile tower locations provided by Sukhbir Badal pertaining to some purported calls did not even exist. The Akali leader was clearly aimed at spreading misinformation, Amarinder Singh said.
About the photograph purportedly showing Amarinder Singh with Daduwal, which the SAD chief had shown in the Assembly, the chief minister said it was clicked during a meeting with a delegation that came to meet him at Punjab Bhavan earlier this year with a charter of demands including detection of sacrilege cases and arrest of those involved in sacrilege/desecration.
"The fact is that if five people of similar build and physique are made to stand with Daduwal, I will not be able to identify him (Daduwal)," the chief minister said.
Alleging that the Akalis were indulging in "cheap gimmicks" now to divert public attention from their "misdeeds of 10 years", particularly the incidents of sacrilege, Amarinder Singh said the inquiry by the House panel would nail Badal's "lies and ascertain the truth" of the matter.
AAP MLA H S Phoolka lashed out at Badal, saying there was nothing wrong in the chief minister meeting Daduwal, in case such a meeting had taken place, since the Sikh preacher was facing threats and had every right to approach Amarinder Singh on the issue.
Earlier, Amarinder Singh proposed the constitution of a House panel to probe Sukhbir's charges, which was allowed by the Speaker and endorsed by members of Aam Aadmi Party.
Meanwhile, AAP MLA Kultar Singh Sandhawan accused the Akalis of scattering the Ranjit Singh Commission report when they had trooped to the Well of the House, and sought a resolution condemning the them for "desecrating the report", and pointed out that it had holy Guru Granth Sahib's name written on several pages.
The House unanimously passed the resolution on this, which was moved by AAP leader Harpal Singh Cheema, who is Leader of the Opposition.
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content
