In what can be termed as nothing short of irony, Punjab Assembly’s Leader of Opposition, Aam Aadmi Party’s Sukhpal Singh Khaira has been issued summons by a local Punjab court in connection with drug case. Following the arrest of some alleged drug smugglers by police in Fazilka in 2015, Khaira’s name had come up. Admitting an application under Section 319 of the Criminal Procedure Code providing for including additional accused, the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge in Fazilka ordered issuance of summons to Khaira on Wednesday. Ironically, AAP had promised to make drug free as soon as they win.
As soon as AAP govt is formed in Punjab, strong action will be taken against Majithia and his allies in drug racket(2/2)
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) March 30, 2016
Despite the allegation, turns out the charges against Majithia don’t hold true.
Unconditional apology by Tribune to Bikram Majithia (AkaliDal) for prominent headlines. Allegations unsubstantiated & incorrect#MediaCaught pic.twitter.com/H1L86Hkmj0
— Amrita Bhinder (@amritabhinder) October 29, 2017
Pointing out the irony that AAP fought Punjab elections held earlier this year on drug menace plank, the BJP demanded resignation of Khaira as the Leader of Opposition. Addressing media persons, Punjab BJP leaders said that the development was not an ordinary one as Khaira has been issued summons by the court and not by an investigating agency or police.
Shiromani Akali Dal also said that Kejriwal should apologise to Punjab for appointing Khaira as Leader of Opposition despite alleged involvement in drug case, especially since Aam Aadmi Party had made such a huge hue and cry about the drug menace prior to elections. They also lashed out on Khaira for being the first and only leader of opposition to be asked to appear as accused in a trans-border heroin smuggling racket by a judicial court.
Khaira’s name cropped up due to his alleged association with Gurdev Singh, former chairman of the Market Committee, Dhilwan, who has been sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment. Meanwhile, Khaira has alleged political vendetta by Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh through his politically motivated prosecution machinery.
In ten months since Congress government came to power in Punjab, the drug menace, which had misleadingly high figures, seems to have miraculously vanished. Perhaps this is a good time to take stock of the real situation and see who are the culprits.
