The AAP government in Punjab promised to restore security cover of 424 VVIPs yesterday. Government’s stance comes in the face of Sidhu Moosewala’s assassination and a case in the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
The Punjab government promised to reinstate the security cover of 424 VVIPs on Thursday. It temporarily withdrew the security cover of these individuals in a notification on May 26, previously. Later, Om Prakash Soni, Congress leader and former deputy chief minister of Punjab, filed a PIL at the high court. The government passed the order days before Sidhu Moosewala’s assassination. Opposition leaders claim withdrawal of Moosewala’s security cover led to his death. The AAP government is in the middle of a political storm as both BJP and INC have criticized its move. Matters have also come to the Punjab and Haryana high court. It asked Gaurav Garg Dhuliwala, the state’s counsel, to bring relevant material in a sealed cover for its perusal. The court wanted to know whether this downgrading was done on the basis of objective data.
On 11th May 2022, an order de-categorised Soni’s Z plus security.The court also wanted to know whether it became public following an RTI appeal or due to some leakage or collusion.Advocate Madhu Dayal, Soni’s counsel, believes that the it the order had little rational basis. The government withdrew its security cover on a “pick and choose basis”.
Government’s Defence
Senior deputy advocate general Gaurav Dhuliwala however believes that the downgrading was standard procedure and not some ad-hoc measure. It was government policy since there are court judgments deprecating unnecessary security covers on public expense, he argued. The withdrawal occurred in view of the Operation Blue Star anniversary, which falls on June 6th. This was a routine exercise undertaken every year, he said. Dhuliwala further informed the court that Soni still has 18 guards with him.
Apart from Sidhu Moosewala and Om Prakash Soni,the government downgraded the security covers of Shiromani Akali Dal leaders Charanjit Singh Dhillon,Jeet Singh Dhillon,Baba Lakha Singh, Satguru Udhay Singh and Sant Tarminder Singh . Back then,it argued of the need to protect law and order in the state necessitated the move.
AAP Government Under Harsh Criticism from Congress and BJP
Meanwhile, opposition parties have traded barbs with the Punjab government for its security lapses. Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh Warring has accused the government of negligence. “ The decision to restore the security of all those protectees, whose security it had withdrawn earlier, is an admission of grave lapse and negligence” he said. Warring further claimed that the government’s negligence cost Moosewala his life. Bhagwant Singh Mann should own his moral responsibility and apologise before Moosewala’s parents. He stated that the current Punjab government owes an explanation to its people.
On the other hand, Congress Leader Partap Singh Bajwa, wants Bhagwant Mann to resign. “I welcome the decision of Honourable Punjab and Haryana High Court to restore back security of all 424 individuals. It’s high time that CM Bhagwant Mann relinquishes charge as Home Minister and gives it to someone more competent and professional”,he said.
Congress turned BJP leader, Sunil Jakhar even accused the government of lying. An anonymous congress leader said to Indian Express, “this time they stretched it too far. They appeared to have not cared for the threat perception. Also they wanted to earn brownie points by handling the list to the media. And the result was right in front of them.
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