SAD becoming safe sanctuary for criminals: Bajwa

Punjab Congress chief Partap Singh Bajwa on Wednesday said the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal had became a safe sanctuary for criminals of all shades. Accusing Badal family of harbouring criminals to further their political interests, Bajwa, in a statement, said.

Punjab Congress chief Partap Singh Bajwa on Wednesday said the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal had became a safe sanctuary for criminals of all shades.

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Accusing Badal family of harbouring criminals to further their political interests, Bajwa, in a statement, said, "Every time an Akali leader is caught red-handed in a criminal activity, chief minister Parkash Singh Badal or his lieutenants in the party come out with ridiculous excuses.

They either disown their party members or take the stand that party had expelled them some time back for anti-party activities. There is a long list of active members of SAD or Youth Akali Dal who were caught on the wrong foot and were later disowned and it may not be a coincidence. A majority of them were confidants of revenue minister Bikram Majithia."

"Drug smuggler Maninder Singh Bittu Aulakh arrested by Patiala police in connection with the synthetic drug racket was not an ordinary member of Akali Dal. He was protégé of Majithia and many other Akali leaders of the Majha area. Badal couldn't deny their patronage to Aulakh after his pictures with deputy chief minister Sukhbir Badal and three other ministers appeared in the media," Bajwa said.