Capt Amarinder backs DGP Dinkar Gupta, says he apologised

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 25

Coming to the rescue of DGP Dinkar Gupta over the security concerns expressed by him regarding Kartarpur corridor, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh today said, “The DGP has apologised. Everybody makes mistakes. Even I make mistakes. We are human beings.”

The Chief Minister also defended his Cabinet colleague Bharat Bhushan Ashu, trashing charges levelled by suspended DSP Balwinder Singh Sekhon against the minister in a 28-year-old TADA case.

A day after the Opposition stalled proceedings of the House over the DGP’s remark and charges against Ashu, the Chief Minister asserted, “The issue is over now. Let us concentrate on peace and on ensuring that the difficult times the state had seen do not recur. Pakistan’s nefarious designs in reviving terrorism cannot be ignored. The statements made by different persons and organisations on DGP’s remark were avoidable.”

The apprehensions over security were not because of corridor, but because of bad intentions of Pakistan, he said. Quoting facts and figures from classified documents, which, he said, could not be shared, Capt Amarinder said the ISI had only one task now – to disturb peace in Punjab. The recovery of large quantity of arms and ammunition and busting of terror modules were sufficient enough to prove this.

But regardless of security concerns, the Chief Minister said the Congress government would not let Kartarpur corridor to be closed down. “It shall remain open for khulle darshan deedar of Darbar Sahib,” he said.

Giving clean chit to Ashu, the Chief Minister said, “The DSP is trying to revive a 28-year-old shut case. The minister was exonerated by the court. The credibility of the police officer itself is questionable. If the departmental inquiry against him finds him guilty, he will face dismissal under Article 311.”

When SAD leader Bikram Majithia pointed out that if cases could be opened against Valhota after 32 years, why not against Ashu, Capt Amarinder said, “Then why not initiate action against Parkash Singh Badal who had torn copies of the Constitution?”

Later talking to the media outside the House, the Chief Minister said the issue was being raised by the Akalis purely for political reasons. “Why did they (Akais) not reopen the cases during their regime if they felt there was something in it?” he asked.

Anger against CAA justified: CM

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Tuesday said the reaction to the CAA had to be expected since the BJP government at the Centre was trying to destroy India's cherished constitutional and social fabric through this draconian legislation. Responding to a question while interacting with the media outside the Vidhan Sabha, the CM said the Centre had failed to factor in the possible reaction of the people in its plans to impose the CAA on the nation.