AMRITSAR: Senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Virsa Singh Valtoha today demanded Sirsa Dera functionary Pradeep Kler be arrested for his role in the 2017 Maur bomb blast which claimed seven lives even as he lambasted the Punjab Police for not questioning him on this issue.
The SAD leader, who was addressing a press conference here, said “there are reports that one of the prime accused in the blast case was known to Kler”. He said it was shocking that the Punjab Police had not questioned him in this case after arresting him for his role in the 2015 sacrilege case.
Mr Virsa Singh Valtoha said the very fact that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government had given VIP status to Kler after arresting him in February this year and refused to question him about his role in the Maur case despite a demand from the Shiromani Committee indicated that it was going soft on him purposely. “The manner in which Kler has now built a castle of lies to defame the SAD as well as its president Sukhbir Singh Badal makes the quid pro quo very clear”.
Mr Valtoha also highlighted how even veteran Akali leader Balwant Singh Ramoowalia, who was accused by Kler of having participated in writing a letter on behalf of the Sirsa Dera chief by Kler, had denied the incident and called Kler a liar. “We have even come out with the SAD president’s event schedule to prove that Kler is lying while claiming that Mr Sukhbir Badal met the Dera head on a particular day”.
The SAD leader also condemned expelled SAD leaders including Mr Gurpartap Singh Wadala for giving credence to Kler’s utterances despite knowing the latter was a prime accused in the 2015 sacrilege of Sri Guru Granth Sahib. He also cautioned the media to exercise caution in reporting the case and condemned those trying to sow hatred in society.