Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief spokesperson Arshdeep Singh Kler today condemned chief minister Bhagwant Mann for giving political asylum to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Convener Arvind Kejriwal even as he asserted that this had put the Punjab government on a collision course with central agencies as well as the Supreme Court.
Addressing a press conference here, Arshdeep Kler said, “This is the first time in the history of the country that a chief minister of a State has got political asylum in another State to escape the clutches of a central agency”. He said Bhagwant Mann owed an explanation as to why he was using the State machinery and the Punjab Police to prevent the arrest of his boss Kejriwal in the Delhi excise scam. Kler also asked Kejriwal to tell people why he was running away from the Enforcement Directorate repeatedly and not even presenting himself for questioning by the agency if he was clean. “It is clear that Kejriwal cannot face questioning in the liquor scam as he is the real ring leader of this scam”. He also asked Kejriwal not to offer such lame excuses like attending ‘Vipassana’ sessions in Hoshiarpur saying “you will get enough time to reflect on your actions in isolation once you are put behind bars in the Delhi excise scam”.The SAD leader said Kejriwal was also cocking a snook at the Supreme Court which had clearly found evidence of a money trail involving corruption to the tune of Rs 338 crore in the liquor scam. “Kejriwal should cooperate in the investigation instead of hampering it”, he added.
Asserting that the phony ‘desh bhagats’ had been exposed, Kler said both Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann were fond of challenging others and even using the State machinery to intimidate their opponents and even registering false cases against them. “However when it comes to them and they are called for questioning in a corruption case which has been upheld by the Supreme Court they are running away from facing the probe agency”. He said in direct contrast SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal and senior leader Bikram Singh Majithia had boldly faced questioning by Punjab government agencies even though they were summoned in false cases.Kler also asked the Aam Aadmi Party to fund Kejriwal’s stay in Punjab including his transport costs in aircrafts as well as money used to provide security and other facilities to him. “Punjabis will not benefit in any manner by Kejriwal’s proposed ten day stay in Hoshiarpur and they should not be forced to finance the same”, he added.
