Jalandhar: Leader of Opposition Sukhpal Singh Khaira has written to Election Commission of India(ECI) demanding immediate action against Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh for his blatant violation of Model Code of Conduct. Addressing media at Jalandhar Khaira said he has written to ECI to take action against CM, a “Protem” Chief Minister be appointed in Punjab till the model Code of Conduct is in place, so that he doesn’t misuse the police and civil administration to influence the by-election.
He stated that Capt. Amarinder Singh has blatantly come out in the open through the media at Chandigarh yesterday, to directly influence the outcome of Shahkot by election slated for 28th May 2018. A close perusal of events post announcement of the by election for Shahkot assembly constituency, clearly indicate that the Chief Minister has blatantly begun to misuse his official authority and the police machinery, to influence the outcome of the said by election.
Khaira writes to ECI that it is pertinent to state here, that an FIR No. 52 dated 04.05.2018 was registered against the Congress candidate Hardev Singh Laddi Sherowalia and others, for illegal mining on the directions of Election Commission of India. Immediately thereafter, the SSP Jalandhar Rural Gurpreet Singh Bhullar addressed the media and debunked the FIR and accused the SHO Mehatpur P.S.Bajwa of being mentally upset, termed it as a faux pas and threatened the officer of disciplinary action. The said SHO unable to bear pressure and mental torture at the hands of the SSP sent his resignation to the government. The SSP then pressurized the SHO to withdraw his resignation and sent him on forced leave for two days on 04.05.2018. He has further sent him for five more days of forced leave.
Surprisingly instead of taking action against the mining mafia and the culprits including the Congress candidate as per the FIR, Capt. Amarinder Singh CM while addressing the media at Chandigarh yesterday termed the FIR as politically motivated and accused the opposition leaders including myself and Daljit Singh Cheema Ex Minister of Shiromani Akali Dal, of being the architects of the FIR. The Chief Minister produced telephone call details of Daljit Singh Cheema and mine, to accuse us of being in touch with the SHO and pressing him to register the said case of illegal mining. He has also accused the said SHO of immoral behavior, thus creating the ground for his dismissal post the by election result on 15.06.2018.
By doing so the Chief Minister has not only become party to the tainted Congress candidate and others accused but has very categorically conveyed as strong message to the police to cancel the said FIR. Is it possible for any police officer to further investigate the illegal mining FIR after what the Chief Minister has stated publically yesterday? Can a SP(D) level officer who is entrusted with the investigation of said FIR deliver justice?
Besides threatening the police machinery for no action against Congress candidate, the Chief Minister has also indulged in unconstitutional phone tapping of opposition leaders including me.
By tapping our phones the Chief Minister has directly infringed on our fundamental right of privacy and freedom of expression and speech. The Chief Minister has blatantly violated the Indian Telegraph Act, by ordering the tapping of our telephones.
Leader of Opposition in Punjab demanded the following action to ensure free and fair by election in Shahkot.
- A “Protem” Chief Minister be appointed in Punjab till the model Code of Conduct is in place, so that he doesn’t misuse the police and civil administration to influence the by election.
- The ECI should immediately initiate strict action against Capt. Amarinder Singh for flouting the election code of conduct by publically intimidating the said police officer and opposition leaders.
- The SSP Jalandhar Rural Mr. Gurpreet Singh Bhullar be immediately transferred out of his current posting for pressuring the said SHO and sending him on forced leave, first for two days and now again for five more days, so that no action is taken against the Congress candidate, thus becoming a direct party to the ruling Congress in the state.
- The further investigation into the said FIR be transferred out of the state of Punjab, preferably to Chandigarh, Haryana or Delhi for an impartial inquiry.
- Punjab Police be immediately replaced with central para military forces for the conduct of polling for the by election.
- A FIR be also registered against Laddi Sherowalia Congress candidate on the basis of sting already provided to the CEO Punjab, wherein he is clearly seen demanding Rs. 8 lac per month “Goonda-Tax”, from the mining contractors of Caimwala khud.