Holding Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal directly responsible for the connivance and laxity that led to the Nabha jail break incident, the Punjab Congress has demanded a CBI probe, saying a fair investigation was not possible as long as the Akali government was patronizing criminals and gangsters in the state.Reacting to a report in a section of the media, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) leaders Laal Singh, Hardyal Singh Kamboj and Sadhu Singh Dharmsot said Sukhbir’s attempt to cover up the internal conspiracy which led to the escape of five criminals, including hardcore terrorist Harminder Singh Mintoo, had been completely exposed by the SIT. The media report said SIT had on Thursday submitted its report to the home ministry.The Punjab Congress leaders pointed out that the SIT had also reportedly nailed Sukhbir’s lie alleging ISI hand in the jail break. With the SIT report clearly citing connivance of prison officials with gangsters, and pointing to serious security lapses with the jail authorities failing to implement security norms, the entire conspiracy has been exposed as the handiwork of internal elements, they added.
The fact that Sukhbir had chosen to blame the ISI soon after the jail break, without allowing for a thorough investigation, was proof enough of his attempt to put a lid on the conspiracy that led to the brazen jail break, the PPCC leaders said.That the Badal government is providing patronage to gangsters in order to use them for promoting Akali interests in the forthcoming Punjab Assembly elections is more than endorsed by the SIT report, said the PPCC leaders, alleging a high-level pre-planned conspiracy in the jail break incident.There appears to be a deep-rooted plot behind the entire affair, said the PPPC leaders, seeking an immediate independent investigation before the trail becomes cold.The Punjab Congress leaders reiterated their demand for imposition of the Code of Conduct by the Election Commission without further delay to prevent further deterioration of the law and order situation in the state. With 52 armed gangs active in Punjab, as per the state DGP’s own admission, the situation needs to be addressed on urgent basis, they warned, expressing grave apprehensions of outbreak of violence during the upcoming polls in the state.