Anybody found guilty by SIT won't be spared: Amarinder
Mandi Killianwali (Sri Muktsar Sahib), Oct 7 : Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh Sunday said anyone found guilty by the Special Investigation Team, probing the sacrilege incidents and police firing cases, would not be spared.
He also called upon people to wipe out the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) from both, the state and national politics by voting the Congress to power on all the 13 seats in Punjab in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
Addressing a well-attended gathering here at Lambi, the home turf of Badals, Amarinder Singh accused former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal of lying about not having any knowledge about the police firing in Faridkot that took place in the wake of the Bargari sacrilege case back in 2015.
How could the chief minister of the state not know about such an important development, Amarinder Singh asked, pointing out that the then Director General of Police (DGP) had spoken to Badal as well as the Inspector General of the state before using force.
If, despite this, Badal did not know about the incident he should be ashamed, he added.
Stressing that his government had setup the Justice (Retd) Ranjit Singh Commission to expose the truth, the chief minister flayed the Badals for "failing to implement" the report of their own Zora Commission, formed to probe the sacrilege and firing cases.
"Beadbi (sacrilege) will not be tolerated at any cost, he said making it clear that his government would come down hard on those found guilty of sacrilege.
However, the chief minister clarified that he would not indulge in political vendetta and only the guilty would be punished as per the law.
People ask me everyday when will you arrest Badals. When the SIT submits report, then a decision will be taken who will be arrested or not," he said.
"There is a law and constitution in the country We will go as per law and investigations (conducted by SIT), he added.
Amarinder Singh also accused the Badals of "destroying" the lives of youth and farmers by failing to act on the issues of drugs and farm debts.
The chief minister further asked the crowd to ensure that a democratic government was formed in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
The Punjab Congress had informed the party high command that there was no need of an alliance in the state, he said, exhorting the people to vote the party to power with a sweeping mandate.
On the occasion, the Punjab Congress chief also declared that the party will win all the 13 parliamentary seats in the state.
The chief minister released 'Mission13' poster of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) to mark the launch of the party's Lok Sabha campaign.
He promised to fulfil all the demands of the people of Lambi, which SAD patriarch Parkash Singh Badal had failed to do, inspite of being elected from the constituency multiple times.
The chief minister came down heavily on the Akalis for the political victimisation unleashed during their rule, saying that misuse of power was the hallmark of their government.
Pointing to the establishment of Justice (Retd) Mehtab Singh Commission by his government, Amarinder said 4,451 complaints of false cases had so far been received, of which Commission recommended the cancellation of 355 cases.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
MP minister's veiled remark on Col Sofia Qureshi sparks major row; he apologises, Cong seeks ouster
Bhopal/Indore, May 13 (PTI): Madhya Pradesh Minister and BJP leader Vijay Shah has sparked a major controversy with objectionable comments that appeared to be directed at Col Sofia Qureshi, whom he tried to project as a "sister of terrorists."
Under severe flak, Shah said if anyone is hurt by his statement, he is ready to apologise ten times, adding that he respects Colonel Qureshi more than his sister.
The Congress has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to sack Shah from the Madhya Pradesh cabinet.
Colonel Qureshi had conducted regular press briefings, sharing details of the 'Operation Sindoor' launched by Indian armed forces to strike terrorists, joined by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh.
"Those people (terrorists) who had wiped out the sindoor (vermilion) of our sisters (in the Pahalgam terror attack)..We avenged these 'kate-pite' people by sending their sister to destroy them," Shah said.
"They (terrorists) killed our Hindu brothers by making them remove their clothes. PM Modi ji responded by sending their (terrorists') sister in an Army plane to strike them in their houses. They (terrorists) made our sisters widows, so Modiji sent the sister of their community to strip them and teach them a lesson", the BJP leader said while addressing a gathering in Ramkunda village near Indore.
He said, "Revenge was taken for the honour of our country (India), respect, and for the (slain) husbands of our sisters by sending a sister from your (terrorists') community to Pakistan".
The tribal welfare minister clarified that his remarks should not be construed otherwise.
Shah's remarks drew wide-scale condemnation, with Congress demanding his immediate dismissal from the MP cabinet.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said Shah, who made 'derogatory' remarks in reference to Colonel Sofia Qureshi, should be dismissed immediately.
"A minister of the BJP government of Madhya Pradesh has made a very derogatory, shameful and cheap remark about our brave daughter Colonel Sofia Qureshi. The terrorists of Pahalgam wanted to divide the country, but the country was united during the entire 'Operation Sindoor' to give a befitting reply to the terrorists," Kharge posted on X.
He alleged that the BJP-RSS harbours an anti-women mentality.
"First, the wife of the naval officer martyred in Pahalgam was trolled on social media, then the daughter of Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri was harassed, and now the BJP ministers are making such indecent comments about our brave woman Sophia Qureshi," Kharge said and appealed to PM Modi to immediately sack Shah.
Madhya Pradesh Congress president Jitu Patwari shared the video of Shah on X and asked whether the BJP agrees with the minister's "low thinking"?
The MP Congress Committee alleged that Shah's "indecent' and hate-filled" statement is not just a personal attack, but an open attack on India's military dignity, national unity, and women's honour.
Amid the raging controversy, the BJP's Madhya Pradesh general secretary Hitanand Sharma summoned Shah to the state headquarters in Bhopal.
According to sources, Sharma reprimanded the minister, who also met the state BJP president, Vishnu Dutt Sharma.
Speaking to reporters, Shah sought to attribute the intemperate remarks to his "disturbed" state of mind in view of the brutal killing of innocent people in Pahalgam by terrorists.
He claimed many members of his family have a military background and many were martyred.
"Sister Sophia has brought glory to India by rising above caste and religion. She is more respected than our own sister. I salute her for her service to the nation.
"We cannot even think of insulting her in our dreams. Still, if my words have hurt society and religion, then I am ready to apologise ten times,'' he added.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Manoj Shukla and the party workers blackened the nameplate of Shah at his bungalow and raised slogans seeking his resignation.
'हमारी सेना की जांबाज बेटियां आतंकवादियों की बहन हैं'
— Congress (@INCIndia) May 13, 2025
- ये घटिया बात मध्य प्रदेश में BJP सरकार के मंत्री विजय शाह ने कही है।
भारत की जिन बेटियों पर सबको नाज है, उन बेटियों को लेकर ये शर्मनाक बयान दिया गया है। उन्हें आतंकवादियों की बहन बताया गया है।
ये हमारी पराक्रमी सेना का… pic.twitter.com/y591M3ky8G
