Former Vidhan Sabha deputy speaker Bir Devinder Singh has questioned Union cabinet minister Maneka Gandhi, former chairman of Minorities Commission Tarlochan Singh and UP cabinet minister Balwant Singh Ramoowalia over their silence on the cold-blooded murders of Sikhs in Pilibhit Jail in UP.
“The three politicians mentioned above certainly owe public explanation as to why they miserably failed to take the cases of the victims while they were at the helms of affairs,” he said.
He said Maneka Gandhi, who represented the Lok Sabha constituency of Pilibhit for six times and currently a minister in the Union cabinet, has never ever thought it appropriate to raise the issue of the murders of the Sikh prisoners, neither in the Parliament nor at any other forum.
“Her mysterious silence on the issue till date is questionable and people of the area in general and Sikhs in particular would like to know from her as to what recourse she has taken, ever since she has learned about the unfortunate incident,” said Bir Devinder.
He also questioned that why former MP and former chairman of Minority Commission Tarlochan Singh, failed to take suo-motu call to probe such incidents. “It is pertinent to mention here that the National Commission for Minorities was granted the statutory status in the year 2003 while Tarlochan Singh was the chairman of the commission and he continued as such till February 2006. Later, he became Rajya Sabha MP, but never raised this issue in the Parliament,” said Bir Devinder, asking Tarlochan Singh to explain his conduct.
{{/usCountry}}He also questioned that why former MP and former chairman of Minority Commission Tarlochan Singh, failed to take suo-motu call to probe such incidents. “It is pertinent to mention here that the National Commission for Minorities was granted the statutory status in the year 2003 while Tarlochan Singh was the chairman of the commission and he continued as such till February 2006. Later, he became Rajya Sabha MP, but never raised this issue in the Parliament,” said Bir Devinder, asking Tarlochan Singh to explain his conduct.
{{/usCountry}}“Similarly, Balwant Singh Ramoowalia colossally failed to address the issue, both as member of the National Commission for the Minorities and thereafter as union minister in the HD Deve Gowda dispensation. Intriguingly, he is again minister of jails in Uttar Pradesh Government led by Akhlesh Yadav,” said Bir Devinder.
“Let us see how Ramoowalia pursues the case of victims of Pilibhit Jail bloodshed, while him being the minister for Jails of Uttar Pradesh”, he said, demanding a stringent action against the guilty.