Former CM Parkash Singh Badal reiterates demand for Sukhpal Khaira’s resignation
Five time chief minister and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) patron S Parkash Singh Badal today said leader of opposition Sukhpal Khaira should tender his resignation immediately on moral and ethical grounds even as he maintained that this had been his consistent stand on this issue. In a statement here, Mr Badal said “the fact of the matter is that I was the first person to ask for Sukhpal Khaira’s resignation on November 1, immediately after he was summoned as an accused in a cross border drug racket case with Pakistani links by a Fazilka court. I voiced this demand to newsmen at the party head office here. This is a matter of record”. “The high court dismissed this petition and upheld the Fazilka court order summoning him as an accused. It also stated that details of calls between Khaira and the accused persons could not be taken lightly in the wake of drug smuggling across the Pakistan border. It also rejected Khaira’s claims that he was a victim of political vendetta by stating that it was not ready to accept submission that the action taken by prosecution was actuated with malice. In light of this judgement by the honorable high court Khaira’s position has become untenable and he should not delay tendering his resignation any longer”, Mr Badal added. Referring to a media story quoting him as saying that Khaira should quit only when held guilty, the former CM said the import of his words had not been understood in right perspective and that he was quoted out of context. “It was not understood that this is not an ordinary case of political vendetta but a case of heroin and arms smuggling in which the accused have been awarded punishment after trial and now Khaira’s links have been established with the main accused. In this case when the honorable high court has ruled against Khaira he has no option but step aside to maintain probity in public life and respect the honour and dignity of the chair he holds”, Mr Badal added. -PTC News
