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Bajwa accuses Badal of double standards
Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Partap Singh Bajwa on Thursday said chief minister Parkash Singh Badal was shedding crocodile tears over death-row convict Devinderpal Singh Bhullar in a bid to "achieve narrow political gains."
Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Partap Singh Bajwa on Thursday said chief minister Parkash Singh Badal was shedding crocodile tears over death-row convict Devinderpal Singh Bhullar in a bid to "achieve narrow political gains."
In a press statement, the PPCC chief said the SAD-BJP regime, by taking a contrary stand, had been exposed on the issue of granting clemency to Bhullar. "Both parties are compromising democratic values and national interests to remain in power," Bajwa said.
Stating that BJP national secretary Laxmi Kanta Chawla and Punjab BJP president Kamal Sharma were opposing clemency to Bhullar, Bajwa said the CM had resorted to double standards. "On the one hand, Badal is demanding clemency for Bhullar, but on the other, he had filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court dubbing him a hardcore terrorist," the PPCC chief said.
"The affidavit, while defending current director general of police (DGP) Sumedh Singh Saini in a case against him in 2009, stated that 'hardcore and experienced criminals, who have a well-organised international support base, are likely to misuse such orders to attempt victimisation of dedicated police officers, which is a matter of concern to the petitioner'.
The case pertained to 'disappearance' of Bhullar's family members," Bajwa added.
He said Badal also took a U-turn on the issue of passing a resolution in the Vidhan Sabha in 2011, seeking clemency for Bhullar.
The PPCC president said the Congress respected human rights of every individual, including death-row convicts, and that Bhullar had every right to seek judicial and administrative relief, if permitted by law.
