PUNJAB GOVT DISMISSES KHAIRA’s CHARGES AGAINST NARANG COMMISSION’s PRESENTING OFFICER

PUNJAB GOVT DISMISSES KHAIRA’s CHARGES AGAINST NARANG COMMISSION’s PRESENTING OFFICER

FLAYS LEADER OF OPPOSITION FOR INDULGING IN POLITICAL GIMMICKRY WITH FALSE STATEMENTS

Nabaz-e-Punjab Bureau, Chandigarh, August 12:
The Punjab government has dismissed as totally baseless the allegation of the Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, dubbing the report of the Justice Narang Commission in the sand mining auctions as a `scam.’
The spokesperson flayed the leader of the opposition for indulging in political gimmickry by making such ridiculous statements without any substance.
Charging Sukhpal Singh Khaira of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) with making unsubstantiated statements, a government spokesperson on Saturday said the elevation of the Commission’s Presenting Office, Avtar Singh Sandhu, as Law Officer was made in due accordance with the law, adhering to all requirements mandated by the Punjab Law Officers Engagement Act 2017.
The spokesperson completely rejected Khaira’s statement that Sandhu’s appointment as Additional Advocate General endorsed the fact that the Commission was set up by the chief minister to give a clean chit to cabinet minister Rana Gurjit Singh. Sandhu’s appointment as a Law Officer was made by an independent Selection Committee constituted under the Punjab Law Officers Engagement Act 2017, which also included a Retired Judge of the High Court, said the spokesperson.
Pointing out that a Commission of Inquiry was a fact finding body, the spokesperson noted that a Presenting Officer for the Government was merely required to place facts before such Commission, as borne out from the records of the government, and assist the Commission in such exercise of fact finding. Where was the question, then, of Sandhu having manipulated the inquiry in any way, as was being suggested by Khaira, asked the spokesperson.
Justice JS Narang, entrusted with the task of probing all aspects of the said auctions and identifying irregularities if any, was a legal luminary whose credentials were above board, and any attempt to malign his reputation due to political motivation was shameful, the spokesperson added.