CHANDIGARH: The Leader of the Opposition (LoP), Partap Singh Bajwa on Thursday asserted that the Aam Aadmi Party-led Punjab Government registered a zero FIR of Shubhkaran Singh's killing against unidentified persons only after he approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
"Fearing action on the petition filed by me in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the Punjab Chief Minister, Bhagwant Mann, who also holds the home portfolio got FIR registered under sections 302 and 114 of IPC in the Patran Police Station. Otherwise, what has he been doing for the past seven days", Bajwa asked.
Senior Congress Leader Bajwa said that it is mentioned in the FIR that if the killing of Shubhkaran took place outside the limit of this police station (Patran) then it can be referred to Garhi Police Station in Jind district of Haryana. It established that the AAP government registered this FIR with ill intention. This FIR is nothing but an eye wash.
Bajwa pointed out that the FIR was lodged against unidentified persons. Why could not the FIR be registered directly against the Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij as he was the one who directed the police to use brutal force against the peacefully protesting farmers? This is a very weak FIR and would not stand during the complicated proceedings of the court. The AAP government has deceived the family of Shubhkaran Singh.
"The High Court had issued notice to the Punjab Government after the petition was filed. Only then the Mann government woke from its deep slumber and lodge a zero FIR. Meanwhile, Bhagwant Mann owes an explanation to the people of Punjab about what stopped him from taking legal action before", Bajwa added.
The opposition leader said that despite repeated attempts to inquire about the details of the action on the death of Shubhkaran Singh earlier, the senior police officials refused to divulge any details. The police officials also explain why they kept mum and remained mute spectators so far on the issue.
Citing some news reports, Bajwa also brought to the notice of the High Court that some protesters also sustained pellet injuries on their faces the foreheads.
"I as a leader of the opposition filed Public Interest Litigation (PIL) to safeguard the legal rights of the poor farmer, who has lost his life", Bajwa added.