Chandigarh, Sep 8 (IANS) Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Singh Badal on Tuesday called for registration of an abetment of suicide case against Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema and all others named by suicide victim Gulzar Singh in his dying declaration.
The SAD President visited the residence of Gulzar Singh at Tur Banjara village of Sangrur district and assured all help to the aggrieved family.
He also asserted the SAD would take this case to its logical conclusion and would not rest till Cheema was arrested and punished for his crime.
Talking to the media, Badal said Gulzar Singh’s only fault was that he spoke the truth at a Lok Milni addressed by the Minister.
“Gulzar was devastated at the sale of the ‘chitta’ drug which had also led to his son becoming addicted to the same. This is why he asked Cheema about the rampant sale of drugs in his village which was not to the Minister’s liking. The Minister’s accomplices in the village also harassed Gulzar and pressurised him to apologise for speaking the truth. Since Gulzar was not able to stomach this harassment, he ended his life,” the SAD Chief added.
Asserting that a statement given as part of a dying declaration was sacrosanct, Badal said: “Supreme Court guidelines are also clear. A case has to be registered in case of a dying declaration. An FIR should be registered against the Finance Minister and all others named by Gulzar. The police should not try to protect the culprits.”
He added that it was shocking that people were resorting to such extreme acts like suicide due to the wrong policies of the Aaam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led state government.
“The drug menace has crossed all boundaries. Things have come to such a head that home delivery of drugs is taking place in the state.”
He also asserted that AAP leaders were patronising the drug mafia and protecting them against police action in lieu of monthlies.
“This is why drug addiction and drug overdose deaths are on the rise,” the former Deputy Chief Minister added.
–IANS
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