SAD urges ECI to take strict action against IG Kunwar Vijay Pratap

SAD urges ECI to take strict action against IG Kunwar Vijay Pratap

Delhi/Chandigarh, June 4 (H.S.)  – The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to take strict action against Inspector General of Police Kunwar Vijay Pratap  Singh for continuing as member of the SIT team probing unfortunate police actions at Kotkapura and Behbalkalan in violation of the orders of the ECI.

A high level SAD delegation led by MP Balwinder Singh Bhundur called on the ECI here and apprised it that the IG had continued to work as member, SIT even after the State government submitted a compliance report regarding the order to the ECI.

The delegation, including MP Naresh Gujral, Dr Daljit Cheema and Darbara Singh Guru, also submitted a copy of the chargesheet signed by the IG on May 23 as member SIT to the ECI, saying this proved that Kunwar Vijay had continued to function as a SIT member even after he was relieved from this post by the ECI on May 5. This action had been taken after a complaint filed by MP Naresh Gujral in which he has pointed out that the IG was making political statements during the model code of conduct. As per the ECI order the IG could not function as member of the SIT team till the withdrawal of the model code of conduct on May 26.

The SAD also demanded disciplinary action against all those who were responsible for actual implementation of the ECI order. They said the ECI’s order of May 5 removing the IG as member; SIT had been communicated to the Punjab chief secretary for compliance. They said the chief minister wrote to the ECI on May 10 saying its order had been complied with and that the IG had been removed as member of the SIT team.

The delegation said now it had come to light that the ECI order had not been complied with despite the fact that the ECI did not consider the appeal filed by the State government in this context. The leaders said chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh had sought review of the order saying it would cause interference in ongoing investigation but this contention had not been accepted by the ECI.

The delegation also apprised the ECI that the chief minister had also misled the august Commission by publically stating in election rallies that the IG would be brought back into the SIT immediately after the model code of conduct was withdrawn. The delegation even submitted news clippings in this regard.