Chandigarh, July 20: Sukhbir Singh Badal, the president of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and former Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab, is facing increasing challenges. He is scheduled to appear before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Monday for questioning related to the sacrilege case.
Badal has been summoned to the Punjab Police Officers Institute in Chandigarh at 11 AM. The SIT issued a notice on July 16, directing him to appear for questioning.
The SIT’s decision to call Badal follows statements made by former Union Minister and senior BJP leader Vijay Sampla. During his testimony, Sampla allegedly questioned the authenticity of a memorandum submitted to the Punjab Governor concerning the sacrilege incidents, which Badal was involved in.
After receiving the SIT notice, Badal addressed the media on Thursday, stating that he would cooperate with the investigation. He also accused the authorities of using this case for political purposes rather than seeking justice.
In a post on ‘X’, Badal remarked, “For the past 10 years, politics has surrounded the issue of sacrilege. With elections approaching, the ‘broom’ government has reignited this drama. I have participated in every investigation before, and I will continue to do so. I promise that when the Shiromani Akali Dal returns to power in 2027, we will ensure that the guilty receive exemplary punishment.”
This case is linked to the 2015 Behbal Kalan shooting incident, where two protesters were killed and several others injured during a demonstration in Faridkot district of Punjab. The SIT is also investigating the sequence of events leading up to the police action against the protesters in October 2015.
During the investigation, statements from several former officials and political leaders have been recorded to establish accountability.
It is claimed that former Akali MLA Mantar Brar had discussions with the Chief Minister, Home Minister, and DGP before the police action against the protesters. The OSD of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal also confirmed that orders to disperse the protesters were given at night.
Leave a Comment