Daudpur (Punjab): Congress MLA Sukhpal
Singh Khaira and several party workers were today arrested for
defying prohibitory workers after they tried to stop the
inauguration of a water work by ruling Shiromani Akali Dal
leader Bibi Jagir Kaur in Kapurthala district.
Khaira along with party workers alleged that the
district administration had removed a plaque unveiled by him
and instead affixed another to be inaugurated by Kaur, who
Shiromani Gurudwara Parbhandhak Committee (SGPC) President.
They staged a dharna at the site and did not allow the
administration to inaugurate water works for more than three
hours. The situation turned ugly as Congress and SAD workers
started abusing each other on the public address system.
Khaira, a sitting Congress MLA from Bholath assembly
seat, was arrested for violating section 144 Cr PC imposed in
the district banning the assembly of five or more persons.
Jagir Kaur did not reach the venue till the arrest of
the MLA apparently to avoid a direct confrontation. She
inaugurated the water works after the arrest of Khaira.
Meanwhile, Khaira said he had brought the incident to
the notice of Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Nirmal Singh Kahlon
for alleged breach of privilege. He demanded the summoning of
Deputy Commissioner and SSP and other officers.
Before his arrest, Khaira told reporters that
water works supply scheme sponsored by NABARD was initiated
during the Congress regime in year 2004-2005 and a foundation
stone was laid at the site of water works about three months
ago.
He alleged that Executive Engineer Public health
department DSP Bholath and the Station House Officer (SHO)
along with 15 policemen went to the site on April 10 and
destroyed the foundation stone laid by him.
Deputy Commissioner Raj Kamal Chaudhary said he was
not aware of any such incident and would direct the concerned
department to send a report on it.
PTI
