The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today demanded a probe into the purchase of eleven fire tenders by the Local Bodies department, stating the vehicles had started developing mechanical faults immediately after their flagging off by minister Navjot Sidhu yesterday.In a statement here, former minister and SAD general secretary Bikram Majithia demanded the case of malfunctioning fire engines be handed over to an impartial inquiry commission to ensure a free and fair probe."The Commission should also hold a public hearing in the same manner in which Navjot Sidhu recently listened to Superintending Engineers of his department. Sidhu can then explain to the inquiry commission in the presence of media as to why he ordered sub-standard fire tenders which had developed snags immediately after being flagged off yesterday". The Akali leader said it must be ascertained whether the fire tenders were genuinely newly manufactured machines or refurbished and repainted vehicles. Demanding that an inquiry be instituted on this issue immediately, Mr Majithia said this was important because Sidhu had ordered eight more fire tenders whose delivery was expected next week.
"Utmost care must be taken not to accept faulty fire tenders", he said adding the government and society could not take Sidhu's word on this issue. "Sidhu is more known for his comedy circus behaviour and has tried to explain off this serious issue which concerns public safety in the same manner. Governance is not a Kapil Sharma show. We cannot allow Sidhu to risk innocent lives by resorting to flippant behaviour", he added.The Akali leader also pointed out that the presence of AAP legislature party deputy leader Aman Arora at yesterday's flagging off ceremony with Navjot Sidhu explained many things. "Everything is falling into place. The bonhomie between Sidhu and Arora makes it clear that AAP has become a B team of the Congress". Mr Majithia said the earlier support extended to AAP by the Congress to help it form the government in Delhi and the reverse favour done by AAP by voting for Meira Kumar in the presidential polls could also be understood in this context. "In light of such facts we can never expect AAP to fight for granting of loan waiver to farmers or forcing the government to fulfil its promises made to the youth and disadvantaged. That honour will fall to the SAD- BJP alliance and we will take the Congress to task for not fulfilling its promises", he added. EOM