New Delhi, Aug 01: BJP and Congress members today clashed in Lok Sabha with the former accusing the Amarinder Singh government in Punjab of indulging in "witch-hunt" against Akali Dal leader and Former Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal and his family. It was a test of lung power as charges and counter-charges flew from both sides and speaker Manohar Joshi's repeated pleas to restore normalcy went unheeded for quite some time.
Raising the issue during Zero Hour, BJP chief whip Vijay Kumar Malhotra said the Congress government in Punjab had advertised in newspapers alleging that Badal had amassed assets worth Rs.3,500 crore but no case was lodged in this regard for over 18 months. As part of their design to "demolish" their arch political rival, the Congress had set up a commission to probe the charges but its chairman had submitted his resignation, Malhotra charged.

He said raids on 24 properties owned by Badal had revealed nothing.

The BJP member accused Congress of taking the help of Khalistani protagonist Jagjit Singh Chauhan to malign Badal, triggering vociferous protests. Amidst the allegations, Malhotra said, "This is a game both parties can play." Bureau Report