Akalis seek breach of privilege motion over leak of sacrilege report

The SAD-BJP alliance today sought from the Punjab Assembly Speaker a breach of privilege motion against those who allegedly leaked the Justice (retd) Ranjit Singh Commission report on sacrilege incidents.

A joint delegation of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) submitted the notice to Vidhan Sabha Speaker Rana K P Singh alleging Justice Singh, Punjab cabinet minister Sukhjinder Randhawa, and AAP MLA Sukhpal Khaira could be behind the leak.

"We have sought breach of privilege motion against those who are involved in leaking it," senior Akali leader and former minister Bikram Singh Majithia said here.

The first part of the 182-page report of the commission was leaked online last week.

Majithia demanded the arrest of both Justice Singh and Randhawa for allegedly fabricating evidence and leaking a top-secret document before its submission to the Vidhan Sabha.

The SAD-BJP also demanded the immediate dismissal of the minister for his part in the "criminal leakage".

The Speaker must send the case to the Supreme Court with a recommendation for an inquiry into the "grave breach" by a sitting judge of the apex court as it involved allegations of criminal conduct by a former judge of the High Court, Majithia said.

The SAD leader further alleged that Himmat Singh, who was portrayed as a witness by the Commission, had recently revealed that Justice Singh had made him sign a statement in English, a language which he doesn't understand, through "coercive means".

He also accused Randhawa of pressurizing him to sign the statement.

The delegation said Himmat Singh had also demanded narco-analysis and lie detector test of both Justice Singh and Randhawa.

A former granthi of the Golden Temple and brother of former Takht Damdama Sahib Jathedar Gurmukh Singh, Himmat Singh retracted his earlier statement given to the Commission against the then ruling Badal family.

Majithia said the SAD-BJP delegation apprised the Speaker that the alliance had rejected the Commission and also highlighted how Justice Singh was not only a close friend of Chief Minister Amarinder Singh but also the brother-in-law of Khaira.

The Akali leader said that Justice Singh instead of recusing himself, allegedly "went beyond" the terms of reference to "conspire" and "weaken" the SAD, as well as its hallowed institutions including Akal Takht and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC).

Urging the Speaker to act in this matter immediately, the delegation members said the dignity of the Vidhan Sabha was being compromised by such acts.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)