Punjab Assembly session: AAP demands Dera chief be booked, a special court to try sacrilege cases

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“The Chief Justice of the High Court must be requested to set up a special court dealing with sacrilege cases and the House must pass a resolution in this respect,” said Phoolka.

Chief Minister Amarinder Singh at the Vidhan Sabha in Chandigarh on Tuesday (Express Photo/Kamleshwar Singh)

The LoP also supported this demand saying he hoped that the current Congress offensive against the Badals would not meet the same fate as the one launched in 2002 when Parkash Singh Badal and his son Sukhbir Singh Badal were booked and sent behind bars but the case fizzled out in a few years.

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Cheema also said that the CBI should not probe the matter as the BJP was in power at the Centre and was an ally of the Akalis. “A time-bound probe is needed else all accused will get acquitted. The Zora Singh Commission and Justice Ranjit Singh Commission reports already show that there has been tampering of evidence. The passports and properties of the blameworthy officials and Badals should be impounded else they will flee the country,” said Cheema.

Earlier, taking part in the debate, Phoolka equated the Akalis to the institution of ‘Masands’ which used to exist at a point of time in Sikh history but were abolished by the Tenth Guru because they became parallel centres of Sikh authority. “I appeal to the SGPC to listen to their conscience. Do not follow these Akalis else history and coming generations will not spare you,” he said.

Appreciating Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh’s statement in the House Monday naming four Congressmen involved in the 1984 riots, Phoolka said he had “put his chair in danger” by making the statement. “Guru Maharaj has given you the strength to take action against the guilty in the sacrilege case. Take back the case from CBI, ask the SIT to complete its investigation in a time-bound manner in three months and punish the culprits,” he said.

Criticising the Action Taken Report (ATR), Phoolka said it only mentioned the small fish involved in sacrilege and police firing. “Where are the masterminds? What is the meaning of issuing notice to DGP Saini,” he said.

Stating that the police officials who ordered firing on peaceful protesters had not followed the procedure, Phoolka said these officials were like gangsters and they must be tried for murder.

Lok Insaaf Party (LIP) president Simarjit Singh Bains gave out details of how he was arrested by the police for standing in support of the protests against the sacrilege and was even beaten up in custody. “I did not reveal that I was beaten up to even my family members. I was made to lie down in the lock-up in stinking conditions and was photographed in that condition. I had dared the IG present to make my video and show it to everyone that I was not afraid of Badals and could stand up for Guru Granth Sahib,” he said.