Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab Media In-Charge Baltej Pannu on Thursday said fresh revelations in the Behbal Kalan firing case have once again exposed the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leadership’s attempts to evade accountability for the sacrilege incidents and subsequent police firing on peaceful protesters.
Citing the statement of former Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh before the SIT (Special Investigation Team), Baltej Pannu said that Sukhbir Singh Badal had accepted responsibility for the Behbal Kalan firing before Sri Akal Takht Sahib and sought forgiveness, making his current denial a direct contradiction of his own admission.
The AAP Punjab Media In-charge said that Punjab has not forgotten the Behbal Kalan and Kotkapura firing incidents, the beadbi cases, or the role played by the then Akali-BJP government, and asserted that those responsible must answer before the people and the law.
Stating that a video record of Sukhbir Singh Badal’s admission is preserved with Sri Akal Takht Sahib, Baltej Pannu said that confessing before the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs and then denying it in public is an affront to the sanctity of the institution and an attempt to mislead Punjabis who have been waiting for justice for over a decade.
Addressing a press conference, AAP Punjab Media In-charge Baltej Pannu said that whenever incidents related to the desecration of Sri Guru Granth Sahib took place in Punjab, the Akali-BJP governments were in power. “Instead of ensuring justice, those governments indulged in cover-ups and protected those responsible,” he added.
Recalling the 1986 Nakodar firing incident, Baltej Pannu said, “Four Sikh youths were martyred when police opened fire on peaceful protesters demonstrating against the desecration of Sri Guru Granth Sahib. A significant portion of the Justice Gurnam Singh Commission report mysteriously disappeared during the Akali regime to prevent the truth from coming out.
Officers who held key positions during that period were later rewarded with senior posts and political positions by the Akali Dal.” Drawing parallels with the events of 2015, Baltej Pannu said, “The same pattern of suppressing the truth resurfaced when a bir of Sri Guru Granth Sahib was stolen from Burj Jawahar Singh Wala and provocative posters were put up, deeply hurting Sikh sentiments.
Despite widespread public outrage, the then Akali-BJP government failed to act decisively.” He further stated, “When people came out on the streets in peaceful protest against the beadbi incidents, the government responded with force instead of justice.
Peaceful demonstrators at Kotkapura were subjected to water cannons, tear gas and firing, while at Behbal Kalan, police bullets claimed the lives of two innocent Sikhs. The government attempted to shield the real culprits and falsely implicated Sikh youths in the beadbi cases, subjecting them to severe torture before public pressure forced their release.”
Taking direct aim at Sukhbir Singh Badal, Baltej Pannu said that the former Deputy Chief Minister and then Home Minister cannot escape accountability for what happened under his watch. Referring to the chargesheet filed by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) in the Kotkapura firing case, he noted that courts had also made serious observations regarding the handling of the incident.
Baltej Pannu said, “The most significant development is the statement recorded by former Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh before the SIT. The former Jathedar confirmed that during his appearance before Sri Akal Takht Sahib, Sukhbir Singh Badal accepted responsibility for the events linked to the Behbal Kalan firing incident.
This admission was made publicly before Sri Akal Takht Sahib and was video recorded. The recording is still preserved in the records of Sri Akal Takht Sahib.” Questioning the SAD president’s stand, Baltej Pannu said, “If Sukhbir Singh Badal accepted responsibility before Sri Akal Takht Sahib, how can he now deny it before the people of Punjab? If he truly considers Sri Akal Takht Sahib supreme, then why is he contradicting his own confession?”
He further stated, “You cannot seek forgiveness before Sri Akal Takht Sahib and then walk out and claim nothing happened. This is not merely a political contradiction; it is an insult to the sanctity of the institution before which the confession was made.”
Highlighting the AAP Government’s approach, Baltej Pannu said, “The Bhagwant Mann Government has allowed the SITs investigating the beadbi and firing cases to function independently without any political interference. Unlike previous governments, the AAP government has not attempted to influence investigations and is committed to ensuring that the truth reaches the people.”
Baltej Pannu asserted, “The people of Punjab have waited for justice for far too long. Those responsible for beadbi incidents, the firing on peaceful protesters and the subsequent cover-ups must be held accountable, irrespective of their political stature.”