Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Monday said his government had no role in the summoning of former CM Parkash Singh Badal, former Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal, and actor Akshay Kumar by the Special Investigation Team probing the 2015 Bargari sacrilege case and subsequent police firing incidents.
“The SIT is an independent entity and is functioning without any government interference,” Capt. Amarinder said in Sangrur. He said his government’s job was to form the SIT as per the unanimous decision of the State Assembly, which it had done, and now the onus of investigation was on the SIT.
The SIT had on November 11 issued summons asking Mr. Kumar to be present before the SIT in Amritsar on Friday. Mr. Parkash Singh Badal has been summoned on November 19, while Mr. Sukhbir Badal on November 21. The summon orders were issued on behalf of the SIT by its member, IG Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh.
“The summons have been issued under Section 160 of the CrPC, relating to the Bargari sacrilege case and the Behbal Kalan and Kotkapura police firing incidents,” the member said in a statement.
The Akali Dal said on Monday that both Mr. Parkash Badal and his son will appear before the SIT after a decision on it was taken by the party’s core committee a day earlier. “SAD patron Parkash Singh Badal and party chief Sukhbir Singh Badal will cooperate (with the SIT) so that the truth (behind sacrilege incidents) comes out,” party leader and former Finance Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa said, adding, “We expect that the SIT will conduct a fair probe into the matter.”.
Akshay denies role
On Monday, Mr. Kumar also denied arranging any meeting between Mr. Sukhbir Badal and Dera Sacha Sauda sect head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. The actor denied having ever met the Sirsa-headquartered Dera’s chief, who is currently serving a 20-year jail term in a rape case. “I have never ever met Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in my life, anywhere,” he clarified on a social media site.
(With PTI inputs)
