Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal today demanded the immediate arrest of Leader of Opposition in Punjab Assembly Sukhpal Singh Khaira in a 2015 drug case, and asked the AAP and its convener Arvind Kejriwal to tell people how long they would "shield a drug accused".
The demand came after the Punjab and Haryana High Court earlier today turned down Khaira's petition challenging a Fazilka court summon to him in the drug case. Justice A B Chaudhari quashed the non-bailable warrants issued against Khaira and told the trial court to decide the matter on merit.
It was for the first time a leader of opposition of a legislative assembly or parliament had been indicted in a drug racket, Badal told reporters here.
"Kejriwal must come clean and tell Punjabis how long they would shield a drug accused," he said.
"Now the time has come for AAP to walk the talk. It has been projecting itself as a party with a difference. It has always talked about morality and ethics in polity as well as a zero tolerance for drugs. However, it has not taken any action against Khaira till now," he said.
"If Kejriwal fails to take action against Khaira even after today's developments, it will be surmised that he has also been compromised by the latter," he said.
Badal said since "overwhelming evidence" was now available against Khaira, the Congress government in Punjab should file a chargesheet in the case.
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