Punjab Newsline | Chandigarh
The issue of sacrilege and alleged human rights violations during previous governments dominated proceedings in the Punjab Assembly on Monday during the Monsoon Session.
Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema strongly responded to allegations raised by Shiromani Akali Dal MLA Manpreet Singh Ayali, saying that while atrocities against Sikhs had taken place during the Congress regime, Akali leaders also could not escape responsibility for failing to act decisively when they were in power.
Cheema said that making statements today was easy, but effective action should have been taken when leaders had the authority to do so. Referring to the case of Jaswant Singh Khalra, the minister questioned why Ayali and other Akali leaders had not been equally vocal on the matter during the tenure of the Akali Dal-BJP government.
Taking a sharp swipe at Ayali, Cheema remarked that the Akali MLA had now changed both his "seat and stand" and was attempting to gain political mileage from a sensitive issue.
Finance Minister further said that several serious incidents had occurred in Punjab during the Congress era and that an atmosphere of tension had been created among different communities. He maintained that the victims of that period deserved justice, but alleged that the subsequent Akali Dal-BJP government had also failed to fulfil the promises it had made regarding justice and accountability.
Cheema noted that the alliance had assured justice for victims in its election manifesto, but after coming to power it did not take the expected steps to deliver on those commitments. The exchange led to heated political arguments in the Assembly as both the ruling Aam Aadmi Party and the opposition sought to corner each other over Punjab’s past handling of sacrilege cases and human rights issues.
