SAD condemns biased investigation against PTC Networks

Chandigarh, April 11 –Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today said the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government was indulging in political vendetta by violating the human rights of senior SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia besides attacking the freedom of the press by framing a false case against PTC Managing Director Rabindra Narayan registering cases against political leaders and social media activists of other parties for criticizing AAP Convener Arvind Kejriwal. Also Read | Amid economic crisis in Sri Lanka, rations from India reach Colombo Addressing a press conference, senior leaders Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra, Maheshinder Singh Grewal and Dr Daljit Singh Cheema said it was condemnable that the AAP government was acting against all democratic norms as well as the Jails manual by meting out inhuman treatment to Mr Bikram Majithia. “Even facilities to which Mr Majithia is entitled to as an under trial are not being extended to him. The government is even trying to intimidate and harass him with the Jails minister personally visiting the Patiala jail to brow beat officials. This is the first time that a minister has visited the barrack of an under trial making it clear that the AAP government wants to indulge in vendetta against him”. Asserting that the vendetta was not limited to Mr Majithia, Prof Chandumajra said the government was even trying to muzzle the freedom of the press. He said despite the fact that the PTC Managing Director had not even been named in the FIR by a Miss Punjaban contestant; the State police had registered a false case against Mr Narayan to muzzle the voice of PTC. He said this was done despite the fact that the PTC MD as well as other staff had joined the investigation and even handed over CCTV tapes to the police to help it arrive at the truth in the case. “The PTC management has been stressing that it had no links whatsoever with the prime accused in the case – Nancy Ghuman and Bhupinder Singh. The police however moved against the PTC MD without even proceeding against the two main accused in the case”. Prof Chandumajra said the PTC management even wrote to the DGP and even sent a reminder stating that despite handing over all proofs in the case, the State police had framed it in a false case. He said PTC not only submitted the DVRs of CCTV installed at the Mohali office but also proved through video evidence that the complainant had been living with all the other contestants. “Even on the day the complainant was “rescued” by a warrant officer she was visibly happy and had been participating in the contest along with the other contestants. Earlier from March 11 to 15 the complainant participated in dances, took food and had a restriction free movement. She was “rescued” while sitting with all the other contestants and was never in solitary confinement”. Dr Daljit Cheema spoke on how the cyber crime police station in Mohali was being misused to register cases across India against anyone criticizing AAP Convener Arvind Kejriwal. He said this was a blatant misuse of the State police which should be used to enforce law and order in the State. “If this is the state of affairs we can only imagine the plight of the common man”, he added. Maheshinder Grewal while elaborating on the law and order situation, said crime had crossed all limits. “Besides targeted killings, we have also witnessed the loot of Rs 40 lakh at gun point in a crowded area like Chaura bazaar in Ludhiana two days back”. To Know more watch full video The leaders said even though Mr Kejriwal had stated that the AAP government would not indulge in political vendetta, the opposite was happening. They said Punjabis expected AAP to deliver on the promises made to them by improving the political system to increase job opportunities and providing social welfare measures. “Punjabis also expect their State government to stand up against the open interference in its affairs by the centre. They also expect the State to be steadfast in getting its rights from the centre be it Rs 1,200 crore due on account of Rural Development Fund (RDF) and compensation for loss in wheat yield at the rate of Rs 500 per acre”. The SAD leaders said the party had a long history of fighting for the democratic rights of the people and in case the government continued to trample them the party would not remain silent and would take appropriate action to put an end to this vendetta. -PTC News