Union Minister and BJP leader Ravneet Singh Bittu has launched a scathing attack on the Punjab government for opposing the temporary release of jailed Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh to attend the ongoing winter session of Parliament. The political row intensified in the Punjab and Haryana High Court this week.
Bittu's Fiery Critique in Punjabi
On Tuesday, Bittu, who is the Minister of State for Railways and Food Processing Industries, strongly backed Amritpal Singh's plea. He reacted sharply to the state's argument in court that a single speech by the MP could "set the five rivers of Punjab on fire."
Addressing the AAP-led Punjab government and its administration directly, Bittu said in Punjabi, "Aj ona ne surrender karta, aj ona nu dub ke mar jaana chaheeda" (today they have surrendered, today they should die in shame). He drew a comparison with Jammu and Kashmir, citing the case of Baramulla MP Engineer Rashid, who is also in jail but is reportedly granted parole to attend Parliament sessions.
The State's Stern Opposition in Court
The controversy stems from a hearing on Monday, where the Punjab government vehemently opposed any temporary release for Amritpal Singh. Senior advocate Anupam Gupta, appearing for the state, argued that allowing the MP to participate would grant him a platform of "national and global scale."
Gupta contended that such a platform posed "a serious danger to the safety and survival of Punjab" and reiterated that one speech could ignite the state. Amritpal Singh, the chief of 'Waris Punjab De', has been lodged in Dibrugarh jail under the National Security Act (NSA) for nearly a year.
High Court Seeks Concrete Evidence
Following the arguments from both sides, a division bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu directed the Punjab government to place on record the specific material that formed the basis for denying the MP's request for temporary release. The court emphasized the need for concrete evidence to support the state's grave apprehensions.
The bench has scheduled the next hearing in this significant case for December 8. The court's order puts the onus on the state administration to justify its stance with documented proof.
Bittu further emphasized the democratic principle at stake, stating that Amritpal Singh "was given a right by the people" to represent his constituency in the Lok Sabha. He criticized the government's stance as a fall from grace, questioning the logic of fearing an elected representative's participation in the national legislature.
