Punjab has not forgotten the Behbal Kalan, Kotkapura and sacrilege cases and Sukhbir Badal’s role in them: Baltej Pannu.

Chandigarh: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab media in-charge Baltej Pannu said that the new revelations in the Behbal Kalan firing case have once again exposed the Shiromani Akali Dal leadership’s attempts to avoid accountability for the incidents of sacrilege and subsequent police firing on peaceful protesters. Citing the statement of former Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh before the SIT, Baltej Pannu said that Sukhbir Singh Badal had taken responsibility for the Behbal Kalan firing incident in the presence of Shri Akal Takht Sahib and had apologized, due to which his denial now is completely contrary to his own confession.

AAP Punjab media incharge said that Punjab has not forgotten the Behbal Kalan and Kotkapura firing incidents, sacrilege cases and the role of the then SAD-BJP government, and has made it clear that those responsible will have to answer before the public and the law. Baltej Pannu claimed that the video recording of Sukhbir Singh Badal’s confession is safe with Sri Akal Takht Sahib. He said that confessing to the crime before the highest Sikh court and then denying it publicly is an insult to the dignity of this institution and an attempt to mislead the Punjabis who have been waiting for justice for more than a decade.

What did Baltej Pannu say?

In a press conference on Thursday, AAP Punjab media in-charge Baltej Pannu said that whenever incidents related to sacrilege of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji took place in Punjab, the SAD-BJP governments were in power. He further said that instead of justice, those governments suppressed cases and protected the culprits.

Recalling the incident of firing in Nakodar in the year 1986, Baltej Pannu said that four Sikh youth were martyred in the police firing on the protesters who were protesting peacefully against the sacrilege of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. During the Akali Raj, a large part of the report of Justice Gurnam Singh Commission was mysteriously disappeared so that the truth could not be revealed. The officers who were posted on important posts at that time were later given senior posts and political positions by the Akali Dal.

He further said that when people took to the streets to demonstrate peacefully against incidents of sacrilege, the government used force instead of providing justice. Water cannons, tear gas and bullets were fired on peacefully protesting people in Kotkapura, while two innocent Sikhs were killed by police bullets in Behbal Kalan. The government tried to protect the real culprits and implicated Sikh youth in false cases of sacrilege, tortured them indiscriminately, after which they had to be released under public pressure.

Direct target on Sukhbir Singh Badal

Taking a direct aim at Sukhbir Singh Badal, Baltej Pannu said that the former Deputy Chief Minister and the then Home Minister cannot escape accountability for the incidents that happened during his tenure. Citing the charge sheet filed by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) in the Kotkapura firing case, he said the court has also made serious observations on the way the incident was handled.

Baltej Pannu said that the most important development is the statement recorded by former Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh before the SIT. The former Jathedar confirmed that Sukhbir Singh Badal had taken responsibility for the incidents related to the Behbal Kalan firing incident during his appearance before Sri Akal Takht Sahib. This confession was given in front of Sri Akal Takht Sahib in front of everyone and its video recording was also done. This recording is still preserved in the records of Sri Akal Takht Sahib.

Akali Dal President Baltej Pannu raised questions on the stand of Akali Dal and said that if Sukhbir Singh Badal had taken responsibility in front of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, then how can he now deny it in front of the people of Punjab? If he really believes Sri Akal Takht Sahib to be supreme, then why is he going against his own confession?

He further said that you cannot come before Sri Akal Takht Sahib and apologize and claim that nothing happened. This is not just a political contradiction, but an insult to the sanctity of the institution before which this crime was confessed.

Throwing light on the viewpoint of the AAP government, Baltej Pannu said that the Bhagwant Mann government has allowed the SITs investigating sacrilege and firing cases to work freely without any political interference. Unlike previous governments, the AAP government has not tried to influence the investigation and is committed to bringing the truth before the people.

Baltej Pannu claimed that the people of Punjab have waited too long for justice. Those responsible for incidents of sacrilege, firing on peaceful protesters and the subsequent cover-up must be held accountable, no matter how big their political stature.