Sukhbir charges Amarinder with encouraging radicals; CM denies

SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal today accused Amarinder Singh of "consorting with radical elements" to the defame previous Akali-BJP government, charges the Punjab chief minister trashed as "unfounded".

At a press conference here, Badal alleged Sikh preacher Baljit Singh Daduwal had held a late night meeting at the chief minister's residence last night to "vet" the Justice (retd) Ranjit Singh Commission report.

He released purported call details to allege there was a "sinister conspiracy to defame the erstwhile SAD-BJP government and divide the Sikh community". Badal also alleged that Amarinder Singh and his ministers were "consorting with radical jathedars" as part of this conspiracy.

In the state Assembly also, Badal had made allegations against the government.

Taking a strong exception to Badal's "baseless" allegation that he met Daduwal the previous night, Amarinder Singh urged Speaker Rana K P Singh to order a probe into the matter.

Lashing out at the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president for "attempting to mislead the House" with unfounded charges, the chief minister said an inquiry would help ascertain the truth.

The allegations were made by Sukhbir Singh Badal soon after the government tabled in the House the Justice (Retd) Ranjit Singh Commission report into the sacrilege cases.

Asserting he had never met Daduwal and does not even recognise him, Amarinder Singh said when he had gone to Bargari after the police firing, he was told that the Sikh preacher was also sitting there.

"But I had neither seen nor ever met him", said the chief minister.

Pointing out that his official residence was monitored by Close Circuit Television Cameras (CCTVs), Amarinder Singh said in the Assembly that the CCTV videos could easily be checked.

Badal had alleged that the CM had met Daduwal to hatch a conspiracy ahead of the tabling of the Justice (Retd) Ranjit Singh Commission report.

The chief minister dared Badal to a debate over the sacrilege incidents that had rocked the state during the regime of the SAD-BJP. He also requested the Speaker to initiate House proceedings against the MLA for "lying" on the floor of the House.

Amarinder Singh said the Akalis were indulging in cheap gimmicks to divert public attention from their misdeeds of 10 years, particularly the incidents of sacrilege which they had failed to check.

Badal had told reporters that an "unholy nexus between the Congress, AAP and ISI sponsored radical outfits to help the Congress" wash its sins against the Sikhs was out in the open.

"We have conclusive evidence that the chief minister is not only encouraging radical elements but also consorting with them. This new evidence proves that the Ranjit Singh Commission report was vetted at the farm house of a radical leader," he alleged.

He said a meeting was held on July 18 which was attended by among others by Congress minister Sukhjinder Randhawa". He alleged the presence of Randhawa proved the charges that he was instrumental in getting "fabricated evidence" recorded in the Ranjit Commission report.

He said though Daduwal claimed he was in Bathinda, the SAD was in possession of his entry into Chandigarh through the Banur toll plaza. Badal also released purported pictures of Daduwal with Amarinder Singh. He said it was surprising that the chief minister was denying ever meeting Daduwal.