Punjab legislator alleges harassment by Badal government

CHANDIGARH - Shiromani Akali Dal legislator Manjinder Singh Kang Thursday accused his party of harassing him and pressuring him to stop supporting former finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal and also alleged the Punjab government had withdrawn the extra security provided to him as mandated by court.

However, the state government late in the evening refuted Kang’s allegation that he was exposed to a security threat.

Manpreet was sacked from the Punjab cabinet last week and expelled from the party Wednesday after his statements on doing away with subsidies and debt write-offs brought him into conflict with the party leadership.

Kang told reporters that Svinder Singh, the deputy superintendent of police, barged into his house in Amritsar Wednesday night with seven-eight people and created ruckus.

“After forcibly entering my house, they used abusive language against my wife and children,” said Kang.

“The officer took away weapons of my family’s bodyguards. They also took away their belongings, including wireless equipment, trunks, bed-sheets, clothes and shoes. My wife has recorded this, and very soon I will share this recording with the media,” said Kang.

Kang is provided extra security by the state government, on the orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, as his father and relatives played a key role in fighting terrorists in Punjab.

“Earlier, Punjab Police had withdrawn nine security guards and one car from me, hours before the first press conference of Manpreet Badal,” he said.

“The Punjab government is putting pressure on me so that I do not extend support to Manpreet,” he alleged.

A state government official said: “The allegations of Kang are factually incorrect and misleading. He is among the most protected persons in Punjab, ahead of most cabinet rank ministers and several other VIPs. The security provided to him is based on the threat perception.”

“As on today, Kang has 25 security personnel attached to him. In addition, he has been provided seven vehicles, including a bullet proof car, two escort cars and four other vehicles,” the official added.

“Earlier, Punjab Police had withdrawn nine security guards and one car from me, hours before the first press conference of Manpreet Badal,” he said.

Manpreet Badal condemned this incident.

“If anything happens to Kang and to any member of his family, then the Punjab government and its home minister will be responsible,” he said here.