ASI touches minister’s feet, suspended

Ravi Dhaliwal

Tribune News Service

Batala, July 9

A police officer was suspended for “misconduct” on Monday morning, minutes after he touched the feet of Cabinet Minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa at the latter’s Qadian residence.

ASI Palwinder Singh apparently wanted to seek a favour from Bajwa. When the uniformed officer bent to touch the minister’s feet, Bajwa got enraged and instantly called up IG (border) Surinder Pal Singh Parmar. He asked the IG to suspend the ASI.

Soon, Palwinder received his suspension order on his mobile phone. He was asked to report to the Batala Police Lines with immediate effect.

Batala SSP Opinderjit Singh Ghuman confirmed the suspension.

Bajwa had recently got pasted a message outside his Chandigarh office, asking people to refrain from touching his feet. A similar message has been displayed outside the meeting hall at his Qadian residence.

The IG said, “The ASI was in uniform. It was misconduct on his part. It is also a case of gross indiscipline. We dissuade officers from approaching ministers for transfers or promotions. He could have approached me or any other senior officer to get his grievance redressed.”

“It’s better to stand erect and shake hands with Bajwa rather than bend and seek his blessings,” a senior officer said on the condition of anonymity.

Another officer said the minister had gone too far by recommending such severe action against the ASI. “Bajwa could have just given him a piece of his mind. Why was the ASI targeted when hundreds do it (touch the minister’s feet) everyday?” the officer asked.