Not voting for AAP candidate is true tribute to my son: Sidhu Moosewala father

Balkaur Singh addressing the media on Friday. (Express)

The ex-serviceman was speaking after launching ‘Insaaf Yatra’ from Jalandhar’s Phillaur, ahead of the May 10 bypoll. Balkaur Singh has launched the two-day yatra to to seek justice for his son who was killed on May 29 last year.

“I was a happy person till May 29, 2022 and living life like a king. We had no enmity with anybody but even then, my son was killed ruthlessly…For 15 days, the killers were moving around our house in weapon-laden vehicles. This government was aware of the security threat to my son. The Delhi government’s Special Cell had sent a letter to Punjab government mentioning two names, including that of my son’s, who were facing threat. Despite that, his security was withdrawn and the information was shared on social media,” said Balkaur Singh.

He said Jalandhar has families with members settled abroad. “Just like your family members, my son too could have gone and settled abroad but he wanted to work for his own country. He wanted to build good health facilities. Was choosing to stay in India his fault?” “For 11 months I have been running from pillar to post. I went to (Union Home Minister and BJP leader) Amit Shah, (senior Congress leader) Rahul Gandhi and Chief Minister (Bhagwant Mann). Now, I have been forced to approach the public,” Balkaur Singh said.

He said that Punjab CM “accuses me of doing politics over my son’s murder”.

“Whenever I approach the authorities to seek justice, they say I am playing the victim card and doing politics over my son’s death. Is seeking justice for the murder of my son politics? It is the CM who is playing politics over my son’s murder and my efforts to seek justice,” he said.

As his Yatra reached Nurmahal, Balkaur Singh said that personal attacks were being made on him and his family and “they (government) can even link us with gangsters”.

“This government has made mockery of my son’s murder. When I protested outside Vidhan Sabha, they assured me to get time from CM, but till date no one has called me. Not a single accused has been presented in the court in the past 11 months. At this pace, the case will be in the court for 15 years,” he said and asked why can’t his son’s murder case be tried in a fast track court.

“Can’t they arrest those whom I suspect to be involved in the murder? I have come here to debate with people of Jalandhar. They can ask me any question. I have come to your court, so give me justice,” he said, adding that he is not a candidate of any party and neither is he asking the people to vote for any particular party or candidate. “I am just appealing to not to vote for those who cannot deliver justice to the masses”.

The yatra will cover all nine Assembly segments of the Jalandhar Lok Sabha seat. As per the schedule, the yatra started from Bada Pind in the Phillaur Assembly segment at 11 am and moved via Roorka Kalan, Jandiala, Nurmahal, Uggi, Lohina and Shahkot, covering Phillaur, Nakodar, Jalandhar Cantt and Shahkot Assembly segments.

In a video message on social media, Balkaur Singh had appealed to the people of Jalandhar to participate in his yatra. He said that he can get justice for his son only through the people.

The yatra may impact the poll prospects of the ruling AAP, which won 92 out of 117 seats during the Assembly election but lost its lone Lok Sabha seat in Sangrur in a bypoll just three months after coming to power last year. During the Sangrur election, there was a huge uproar over Moosewala’s killing.