‘Continued failure to deliver justice in sacrilege cases’: Congress MLA Sukhpal Khaira slams AAP govt in Punjab

Chandigarh: Punjab Congress leader Sukhpal Khaira on Saturday expressed deep disappointment and anger over what he described as Punjab govt's continued failure to deliver justice in sacrilege cases and the 2015 Behbal Kalan police firing incident, even after three years of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) rule under chief minister Bhagwant Mann.
Khaira's remarks came in response to the Supreme Court's recent dismissal of Punjab govt's plea seeking to transfer the trial of the Behbal Kalan case from Faridkot to Chandigarh. He said the court's decision highlighted state govt's lack of seriousness and competence in handling sensitive cases.
Describing the court's ruling as a "tight slap" on the Mann-led govt, Khaira said, "The AAP came to power on tall promises of accountability and justice, but three years later, the victims and their families are still waiting. The attempt to move the trial to Chandigarh was clearly a delaying tactic, and the Supreme Court rightly saw through it."
Khaira criticised the functioning of the special investigation team (SIT) led by inspector general of police Naunihal Singh. "Despite years of investigation, there was little tangible progress. Shockingly, SP (investigation) Sandeep Kumar Wadhera, who was posted in Faridkot to assist with the probe, was reportedly not even present there, as admitted by IGP Naunihal Singh himself. This reflects a troubling lack of coordination and seriousness within the govt machinery," he said.
Highlighting the continued distress faced by the victims' families, Khaira cited the case of Sadhu Singh, father of victim Gurjeet Singh, who remains in search of justice. "AAP promised a new dawn for Punjab, but all we see are the same old tactics—delays, excuses, and indifference to the public's sentiment," he added.
Khaira also raised questions about the govt's commitment to the Sikh community, whose religious sentiments were gravely hurt by the sacrilege incidents. He demanded that chief minister Bhagwant Mann issue a public apology to the victims' families and the people of Punjab for the govt's failure to deliver justice.
Calling for immediate action, Khaira urged the state to expedite the investigation and ensure that the trial in Faridkot, as directed by the Supreme Court, proceeds without further delay. MSID:: 120433311 413 |