Chandigarh, September 26: Punjab Minister for Cooperation Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa on Thursday reacted strongly to the decision by the CBI to constitute special investigation team (SIT) to further probe the cases of sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib asserting this was clear contempt of the state VIdhan Sabha that had unanimously resolved to withdraw this sensitive probe from the central agency.
“What about the 7-hour debate in the Vidhan Sabha on Justice Ranjit singh Commission report that had recommended further probe? It was at the culmination of the debate that the resolution was adopted recommending to the state government to constitute another SIT for thorough and unbiased investigation. Now the situation is back to square one,” he said.
It was on the basis of the Assembly resolution that the state government had written to the centre withdrawing investigation from the CBI that was entrusted with the job by the Akali Dal-BJP government headed by Parkash Singh Badal.
He said going by the past experience, “this caged parrot” is the most convenient tool in the hands of the Narendra Modi government to give clean chit to its own people and harass the adversaries. He reiterated the apprehension that the way was being paved for giving clean chit to Badal and his son Sukhbir Singh Badal who was deputy chief minister incharge of home department. He said the Akali Dal was part of the Modi government and was thus under protective umbrella.
He said the CBI has constituted the SIT citing letter written by head of Punjab Bureau of Investigation Prabodh Kumar who also heads the 5-member SIT constituted by the state government following recommendation made by the Vidhan Sabha.
The Cooperation Minister felt this had created confusion as the probe would be lost due to probe by multiple agencies.
He held that the larger issue was the contempt of the Vidhan Sabha and the fate of the unanimous resolution recommending withdrawal of probe from the CBI.
