Farmers Movement Archive

SAD slams withdrawal of ex-min’s Z+ security

CHANDIGARH: The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) condemned the BJP-led central government’s decision to withdraw Z+ category security cover give to former Punjab minister and SAD MLA Bikram Singh Majithia. Majithia’s sister Harsimrat Kaur Badal resigned as minister of the NDA government in September, after SAD parted ways with the saffron party over then three farm bills which have elicited strong protests in Punjab. SAD spokesperson Dljit Singh Cheema described the decision as “arbitrary, dictatorial and politically motivated”. Cheema said Majithia’s security cover had been withdrawn because SAD had decided to side with farmers on the central agricultural laws and also objected to denial of official language status to Punjabi in Jammu and Kashmir. He said SAD had voted against the central farm laws in Parliament, and quit the Cabinet and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) over the move. “It is clear that Majithia is a victim of political vendetta. The SAD will not bow down to such tactics and will continue to stand with farmers and Punjabis against the central laws as well as any other issue which weakens the country’s federal structure.” The SAD leader said Z + category security cover had been given to Majithia in 2010, when the Congress-led UPA was in power, on the basis of threat perception. “The case was cleared by then home minister P Chidambaram, who was known to be a hard taskmaster on the basis of credible reports. We would like to know what has changed suddenly that the 10-year-old the cover was withdrawn on the basis of a single-line order. “Majithia continues to be targeted by Pakistan based anti-national elements and gangsters who have openly threatened to eliminate him. Even chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh recently talked about increasing attempts by Pakistan’s ISI to revive terrorist activity in Punjab, particularly the Majha belt, which shares a border with Pakistan,” he said.

The Times of India

2020-11-21

Chandigarh