Badal directs official to probe into verbal spat issue

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today directed a senior official to probe into the incident of a recent verbal spat between a sitting Congress MLA and Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) at Fatehgarh Sahib.
A spokesperson of the Chief Minister's Office said that Badal had asked Patiala Division Commissioner Ajit Singh Pannu to conduct an inquiry into the "unsavoury incident" in which the Fatehgarh Sahib MLA Kuljeet Singh Nagra had allegedly misbehaved and used foul language against SDM Pooja Syal Grewal.
Earlier, taking strong exception to a recent incident of "unruly behaviour" of Nagra with Grewal, a delegation of the Punjab Civil Services Officers' Association called on Badal here and sought a detailed inquiry into the matter to get at the bottom of the case.

After the Congress MLA and local SDM reportedly indulged in a verbal spat at a meeting at Sirhind in Fatehgarh Sahib, opposition Congress had asked the Punjab government to direct its officers to pay respect to the elected representatives.
Nagra and Grewal were allegedly involved in a verbal dual at a meeting held at Sirhind Municipal Council office over an anti-encroachment drive.
Peeved at Nagra's behaviour, the SDM had lodged a complaint against him for allegedly using abusive language.

However, Nagra had refuted the accusations levelled against him by the SDM.
He had said the SDM was not following protocol and had asked shopkeepers to contact her instead of approaching the elected representative of the area.

Nagra had also made a complaint to the Punjab Assembly speaker on the officer's behaviour towards an elected representative.
While different wings of ruling SAD had protested against Nagra's behaviour, Punjab Congress top leadership, including Amarinder Singh, state party chief Partap Singh Bajwa had backed the Legislator asking the chief minister to direct its officers to pay respect to elected representatives.