Claiming that the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) is shedding "crocodile tears" on the sensitive drug issue, the Congress on Wednesday asked Punjab revenue minister Bikram Singh Majithia to first ask chief minister Parkash Singh Badal and deputy CM Sukhbir Badal to undergo the dope test.
"The Congress welcomes your (Majithia's) offer to undergo the dope test, which has been okayed by state Congress president Partap Singh Bajwa. But if you want that the public must know the truth, you must also exhort your brother-in-law Sukhbir Badal and CM Badal to undergo the dope test," Congress MLAs Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Rana Gurjit Singh, Tripat Rajinder Singh Bajwa, Sukhbinder Singh Sukh Sarkaria and Aruna Chaudhary said in a statement on Wednesday.
Reacting to Majithia's statement asking Bajwa to undergo the dope test, Randhawa said, "Let me remind you, that a year ago on the floor of the assembly, I asked the CM to take all MLAs to the Golden Temple and ask them to take an oath on this drug issue, but neither the CM nor Sukhbir responded. I reiterate that all MLAs and their family members must undergo the dope test and the results should be made public without any delay. After all, we are leading a public life and there must be no hesitation in undergoing the test."
The Congress leaders said Sukhbir's compulsion of saving his brother-in-law had pushed his party and the state into a political and social crisis. "It seems that under the pressure of the Opposition, society and alliance partner BJP, both 'jija' and 'sala' have also been isolated within their own party. Sukhbir's dharnas on the international border were primarily aimed at saving his brother-in-law after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) issued summons to Majithia. Why did he not wake up earlier and stage these dharnas?" they asked.
{{/usCountry}}The Congress leaders said Sukhbir's compulsion of saving his brother-in-law had pushed his party and the state into a political and social crisis. "It seems that under the pressure of the Opposition, society and alliance partner BJP, both 'jija' and 'sala' have also been isolated within their own party. Sukhbir's dharnas on the international border were primarily aimed at saving his brother-in-law after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) issued summons to Majithia. Why did he not wake up earlier and stage these dharnas?" they asked.
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