Govt rejects charges of unauthorised phone tapping

With the Opposition sending alarm bells ringing alleging phone tapping by the Punjab Government, the Congress-led Government  on Tuesday categorically rejecting the same while alleging a major political conspiracy against it ahead of the Shahkot by-election.

The government clarification came after the Leader of Opposition and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Sukhpal Khaira and Shiromani Akali Dal senior leader Daljeet

Singh Cheema registered separate complaints with the election panel.

The government spokesperson asserted that the Mehatpur SHO Parminder Singh Bajwa had himself been heard bragging to his colleagues in the police station and to friends about his conversations with AAP’s Khaira and SAD’s Cheema, adding that all the allegations of phone tapping in this regard were totally false and baseless.

“The government has never indulged in any such illegal acts involving violation of the privacy and human rights of individuals, nor would do so under any circumstances,” said the spokesperson, adding that the Opposition had simply picked up a part of the Chief Minister’s statement to divert attention from the operative part of his remarks, which had exposed the blatant nexus of the SHO with the senior Akali and AAP leadership.

At the same time, the has also urged the Election Commission to take cognizance of its request for “immediate transfer” of Mehatpur SHO Parminder Pal Singh in the interest of free and fair by-poll.

“The recent developments in the constituency had exposed the nexus between the SHO and certain politicians belonging to the SAD as well as the AAP,” said the government spokesperson.

Notably, Khaira had not denied the alleged conversation referred to by the Chief Minister, said the spokesperson, adding that it was evident from Khaira’s response that the conversation cited by Capt Amarinder had indeed taken place, as the SHO himself had been found talking about it to all and sundry.

Spokesperson further pointed out that the SHO’s role in the entire episode had been questionable from the very outset, considering the “undue haste” with which he had filed the FIR against the Congress candidate for Shahkot bye-elections Hardev Singh alias Laadi Sherowalia, instead of merely initiating an inquiry, as directed by the Election Commission.

“SHO’s conduct, after filing the FIR, also smacked of partisanship and political bias, which completely eliminated the prospects of free and fair conduct of the by-election,” said the spokesperson, urging the EC to order a thorough probe into Bajwa’s antecedents and conduct, “which has clearly lowered the public image of the state police and administration”.

Spokesperson further urged the EC to investigate reports of the SHO issuing threats to media persons in a bid to prevent them from doing their duty in a free and fair manner.

The election panel was also requested to take all necessary steps to prevent any further violation of its directives or the model code of conduct that was in place in view of Shahkot by-poll.

“The government is all for a fair and transparent inquiry into the charges against the Congress candidate, as per the EC’s instructions, but it is evident from the events of the last few days that the SHO is playing into the hands of political leaders with vested interests,” said the spokesperson adding that the SHO was not interested in a fair probe but was keen to oust the Congress candidate from the electoral race by hook or by crook.

SHO’s behavior, so far, clearly showed that he was acting in cahoots with the Opposition, said the spokesperson, requesting the EC’s intervention to independently probe the entire episode and take all necessary steps to ensure that the is no undue influence or interference in the smooth and transparent conduct of the poll process in Shahkot.

KHAIRA COMPLAINS TO EC, DEMAND PROTEM CM

Demanding appointment of a “protem” Chief Minister in Punjab till the model Code of Conduct is in place, AAP MLA Sukhpal Khaira on Tuesday urged the ECI for immediate action against Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh “for his blatant violations of poll code, intimidation of police officers and telephone tapping of opposition leaders” thereby influencing the Shahkot by-poll.

Khaira alleged that Capt Amarinder blatantly come out in the open through the media at Chandigarh on Monday “to directly influence the outcome of Shahkot by election”.

“A close perusal of events post announcement of the by-election for Shahkot assembly constituency, clearly indicate that the Chief Minister has blatantly begun to misuse his official authority and the police machinery, to influence the outcome of the said by election,” said Khaira.

He said that the FIR was registered against the Congress candidate Hardev Singh Laddi Sherowalia and others for illegal mining on May 4 on the directions of Election Commission, and immediately thereafter, the SSP Jalandhar Rural Gurpreet Singh Bhullar addressed the media and debunked the FIR accusing Mehatpur SHO PS Bajwa of being mentally upset and termed it as a faux pas while threatening the officer of disciplinary action.

“The said SHO unable to bear pressure and mental torture at the hands of the SSP and sent his resignation to the government. The SSP then pressurized the SHO to withdraw his resignation and sent him on forced leave for two days on May 4. He has further sent him for five more days of forced leave,” added Khaira.