Will not back out on promise of action in sacrilege cases, will bring cuplrits to book: Punjab CM

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh Monday asserted that he will not back out on his promise to bring to book culprits of the Bargari sacrilege case and subsequent incidents of firing at Behbal Kalan and Kotkapura in 2015.

The sacrilege incidents had led to massive protests in different parts of Punjab three years ago and two people were killed in the firings at Behbal Kalan. Police had also allegedly fired at protesters to disperse them in Kotkapura.

Rejecting allegations that the situation in Bargari, where anti-sacrilege protesters have been staging a sit-in since June 1, had got out of control, Singh said his government was prepared to deal with any situation.

He also said some people with vested political interests were seeking to politicise the sensitive issues.

On Sunday, the protesters had organised a function to observe the third death anniversary of the two victims killed in the alleged police firing in 2015.

They had given the government a 15-day ultimatum on October 7 to take action against those indicted by the Justice Ranjit Singh Commission which had probed the incidents of sacrilege.

"I had promised (ahead of the 2017 assembly polls) that if the Congress forms government in Punjab, we will take strict action against those responsible both in the sacrilege as well the police firing incidents," the chief minister said at a press conference here.

Singh made it clear that the SIT was investigating the Bargari and other incidents, but "under the law, I cannot interfere in its functioning."
"They have ruined the Gurdwaras," he said, adding that as far as former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal was concerned, "he is no moderate but an opportunist who uses people of all shades to meet his political ends."
He also said the ISI's game was to "disturb India as much as they can, particularly the border states, including Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat."