Did Sukhbir Badal Offer to Court Arrest in Punjab DGP’s Office?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Chandigarh, Feb 5 (NationPress) Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Badal indicated on Thursday his willingness to court arrest at the office of DGP Gaurav Yadav. He emphasized that chartered accountants and staff linked to him should not be subjected to unwarranted persecution by the Punjab Police under the directives of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal.
Speaking to reporters following a meeting with the DGP and the party’s core committee, Badal stated, “The AAP government aims to involve me in the case concerning the status of the 328 ‘swaroop’ of Guru Granth Sahib. Instead of investigating the issue surrounding the ‘swaroops’, the government’s selected SIT is conducting raids on the business sites of my chartered accountants, including Ashwani and Associates, who manage my income tax filings, as well as previous accountants in Bathinda.
Badal revealed, “All my financial documents are being unlawfully confiscated, and my staff and their families are being coerced to falsely implicate me. These actions are unrelated to the investigation of the 328 ‘swaroops’ or the Shiromani committee.”
He reiterated that all his business operations are transparent, asserting that despite Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's claims to dismantle the Sukh Vilas resort and halt his bus services in Punjab, nothing could be executed, as everything is lawful.
Badal made it clear that the Akali Dal would not tolerate such goondaism, stating, “The core committee has taken this matter very seriously and is prepared to take to the streets if the government continues its harassment of SAD leadership. I also caution AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal against misusing the Punjab Police.”
He stated that the AAP government has become increasingly anxious about the growing popularity of SAD and has fabricated a case against senior leader Bikram Singh Majithia to silence him from advocating on behalf of the public.
“Following the significant response received by SAD in the Malwa region, which AAP considered its stronghold during the Samiti and Zila Parishad elections, the government has decided to target me,” Badal added.
“This is why the SITs, which act as private militias for AAP, have been established to entangle SAD leaders in fabricated cases,” he concluded.