Arrest Joshi, demands Congress - Amarinder questions Jaitley’s silence over attack on lawyers

Monday, 12/05/2014

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20140512/punjab.htm#6

Amritsar : The Congress leadership today lashed out at the ruling alliance for the armed attack on Vineet Mahajan and his brother yesterday and the “false” case filed against Sandeep Gorsi a day before that. Both Mahajan and Gorsi are complainants in cases against state minister Anil Joshi.

They demanded that a case be registered against Joshi and he be arressted. Seeking a judicial probe into the matter, they threatened to stage a dharna against police “inaction” till the time justice was done.

Congress candidate Capt Amarinder Singh criticised BJP candidate Arun Jaitley’s silence on the murderous assault.

“Jaitley’s silence on the issue would mean that he approves of whatever Joshi has been doing in Amritsar. Being a lawyer, Jaitley should have had some empathy for his fellow colleagues, who are being victimised,” he said.

Amarinder said there was a general impression that those behind the attacks on Gorsi and Mahajan had Jaitley’s patronage and the latter’s silence on the issue would only strengthen this perception.

Partap Bajwa, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) chief, also demanded that Joshi be arrested.

He urged the Election Commission and the Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab, to direct the police to act against Joshi.

He said the Congress would not be a mute spectator to the atrocities being committed on the people by the “henchmen” of the ruling alliance. He warned that his party workers would take to the streets if no action was taken against Joshi.

Sukhpal Khaira, PPCC spokesperson, alleged that the attacks, that were pre-planned, were a “clear attempt by the minister and the police to force the complainants to withdraw their petitions from the court.”

The president of rural District Congress Committee, Gurjeet Aujla, said they would gherao Joshi’s house on May 13.

Chief Parliamentary Secretary Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu said anyone guilty in the case, irrespective of his position, should be brought to the book. She said the people were sick of the police-politician nexus. “The police must put its act together to restore the people’s faith in it,” she said.

Senior BJP leader Laxmi Kanta Chawla said the law and order needed to be improved and criminals dealt with sternly.

Police needs to get its act together: Dr Sidhu

Chief Parliamentary Secretary Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu said anyone guilty in the case, irrespective of his position, should be brought to the book. She said the people were sick of the police-politician nexus and the police must get its act together to restore the people’s faith in it. “Instances like thefts and assault are on the rise. This is worrisome," she said. Senior BJP leader Laxmi Kanta Chawla said the law and order situation needed to be improved and criminals dealt with sternly. Chawla visited advocate Vaneet Mahajan and his brother Avneesh in hospital.