Punjab BJP meets guv, seeks CBI probe into Randhawa suicide case

Chandigarh: A delegation of the BJP, led by Punjab state president Sunil Jakhar and working president Ashwani Sharma, met governor Gulab Chand Kataria on Wednesday and submitted a representation urging him to recommend a CBI investigation into the alleged suicide case of the Punjab Warehousing district manager in Amritsar, Gagandeep Singh Randhawa.Speaking to the mediapersons, Jakhar said when the ruling govt's ministers themselves were facing allegations, how can one expect a fair investigation. He added that the deceased's family and the people of Punjab were demanding a CBI probe to ensure justice."Today, it's clear that while Punjab is demanding justice, Arvind Kejriwal is busy seeking votes in Gujarat. I told the governor that we never had much hope from the AAP-led govt in Punjab — especially after seeing top officials like the DGP and chief secretary share a political stage during a rally and speak in favour of the chief minister and the Aam Aadmi Party," Jakhar said.Slamming Congress, Jakhar said, "In Parliament, a demand was made to transfer Gagandeep's case to the CBI, to which home minister Amit Shah agreed, asking for written representation from the MPs from Punjab. But even after three days, three Congress MPs from Punjab have not signed the request."He accused Punjab Congress leadership of being "on the payroll of the Bhagwant Mann govt."Jakhar alleged that on the day opposition parties jointly protested and attempted to gherao Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann's residence in Chandigarh, "a very senior Congress leader was contacted at night. The CM allegedly sent an associate, and remarks made to that leader over the phone, on speaker, were such that any sensitive person, like Gagandeep, would not have been able to tolerate the humiliation. But these Congress leaders are shameless — such things do not affect them at all." Jakhar said, "I will not name the leader today. I will name the leader when I bring the audio."Jakhar asserted, "The opposition also has a duty to safeguard justice, but our numerical strength in the assembly is very small (BJP has two MLAs in the 117-member Punjab Vidhan Sabha), and we understand our limitations."Ends MSID:: 129802484 413 |