Badal orders probe over Congress lawmaker's 'misbehaviour'

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal Thursday ordered a probe after a Congress legislator allegedly "misbehaved and used foul language" with a woman bureaucrat.

Patiala Division Commissioner Ajit Singh Pannu has been asked to conduct the inquiry into the incident allegedly involving Congress legislator from Fatehgarh Sahib, Kuljit Singh Nagra and sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Pooja Syal Grewal.

Grewal complained to the Fatehgarh Sahib deputy commissioner Monday that Nagra misbehaved with her and used abusive language during a meeting on civic issues in Sirhind town.

Nagra, on his part, alleged that the SDM misbehaved with him in front of other people and undermined his position as a public representative.

He said when he went to meet the SDM over some civic problems of the people, she reprimanded them from taking the issues to the legislator and told them to get in touch with her directly. This angered the Congress legislator who objected to the statement.

"Taking strong exception to an incident of unruly behaviour of Fatehgarh Sahib MLA Kuljeet Singh Nagra with SDM Pooja Syal Grewal, a delegation of the Punjab Civil Services Officers' Association today (Thursday) called on Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal here at the chief minister's residence this evening (Thursday) and sought a detailed inquiry into the matter," said a spokesman of the chief minister's Office.

"Badal asked the commissioner, Patiala division, Ajit Singh Pannu to conduct an inquiry into this unsavoury incident in which the Fatehgarh Sahib MLA allegedly misbehaved and used foul language with the woman officer," the spokesman said.

Punjab Congress leaders defended the party legislator, saying the woman officer's behaviour with him was uncalled for.

State Congress leaders have also submitted a complaint with Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal on this issue.