Bhoa Congress MLA Joginder Pal ‘slaps’ youth at event

Bhoa (Pathankot), October 20

Known for his outbursts against officials, Congress MLA from Bhoa Joginder Pal is again in the thick of a controversy. This time for thrashing a youth who had dared to ask the legislator what he had done for the people ever since he became an MLA.

Dy CM takes note

Representatives elected by people should mind their behaviour and language when they are in public. Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Dy CM

The incident triggered strong reactions from both within and outside his party. Deputy CM Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said “elected representatives should mind their behaviour and language when they are in public.”

Late on Tuesday night, Joginder was addressing a gathering in Samrala village of his constituency when a youth expressed a desire to speak to him. The moment he said “Tu ki kitta? (What have you done for the constituency?)”, the MLA repeatedly slapped him. His security, too, joined in to thrash the youth. A video of the unsavoury incident went viral.

Two days ago, the MLA could be seen gesticulating wildly at Pathankot ADC Sandeep Singh. A video of this incident, too, had gone viral.

When CM Charanjit Singh Channi was on a tour of Pathankot on Monday, Joginder wanted him to visit his assembly seat too. According to the plan charted out by the CM’s office, Channi was scheduled to visit Bhoa but had to call off his programme due to unavoidable circumstances. The incident occurred at the helipad. ADC Singh was placating Joginder after the CM had declined his request. However, the MLA took out his anger on the officer.

In October last year, Joginder blamed the Pathankot Civil Surgeon for declaring him Covid positive to prevent him from attending a meeting in Chandigarh. A few days before this incident, the MLA he had rattled the bureaucracy by saying, “I have the power to tear up the clothes of policemen. I will turn the DC, SSP upside down if they do not do their work.”

“He needs to take a crash course in how to behave decently. He is slowly becoming a liability because of his nasty antics,” said a Congress MLA. — TNS

Also read: Cong MLA Joginder Pal abuses staffer, audio viral