A day after Punjab Advocate General A P S Deol accused Punjab Navjot Singh Sidhu of obstructing the functioning of the state government, the Punjab Congress chief told Deol to leave the politics to the politicians.
In a series of tweets, Navjot Singh Sidhu pointed out that the Advocate General APS Deol had appeared for the accused in the sacrilege cases and is now representing the State.
"Mr. AG-PUNJAB, Justice is blind but people of Punjab are not. Our Congress party came in power with a promise to give justice in Sacrilege Cases, in which you appeared before the High Court for main conspirators/accused persons and made serious allegations against our Govt," Navjot Singh Sidhu tweeted.
"Further, You specifically prayed for transferring the investigation to CBI as you were afraid of their false implication in Sacrilege cases on accounts of malafide, malice and ulterior motives on the part of political party in power in the state of Punjab," he added.
Navjot Singh Sidhu slammed Deol for making serious allegations against the state government while he was appearing for the accused in the sacrilege cases.
“Today, you are representing the same government of the same political party in power and accusing me of spreading misinformation, whereas, I am fighting for justice in sacrilege cases and you were procuring blanket bails for the accused persons,” he said.
"May I know which interest (vested or otherwise) were you acting for when you appeared for the main conspirators and procured blanket bail for them and which interest, you are acting now?" Navjot Singh Sidhu added.
Sidhu also questioned that if Deol is acting at the behest of those who have appointed him in office. "Are you acting at the behest of those who appointed you in this constitutional office and fulfilling their political gains? Did you advise the Government to challenge the blanket bail order procured by you or any other adverse order in Sacrilege cases in Supreme Court?" he said.
"You appeared for the accused, now representing the State and very soon you will seek elevation as a judge so that you can decide this case. Being the highest law officer, your focus is on politics and political gains," he added.
The comment comes a day after Punjab’s advocate-general issued a statement saying that the state Congress chief is obstructing the functioning of the state government and his office as well as "spreading misinformation to gain political advantage".
Deol's remarks came a day after Sidhu withdrew his resignation as Punjab Congress chief but declared that he will not re-assume charge till Deol is removed as AG and a panel set up for the appointment of the new director general of police (DGP).
Sidhu had resigned from the post on September 28. In a statement, Deol said Sidhu's "repeated utterances seek to derail the earnest efforts of the state government to ensure justice in the drugs matter and the sacrilege cases".
"Navjot Singh Sidhu is obstructing the functioning of the government and the office of the advocate general," he alleged.
"Navjot Singh Sidhu is spreading misinformation to gain political advantage over his political colleagues. There is a concerted attempt by vested interests to malign the functioning of the Congress party in view of coming elections in Punjab for their selfish political gain by politicking the constitutional office of the Advocate General of Punjab," he added.
Sidhu, the Amritsar East MLA, has been opposing Deol's appointment as the state AG and Iqbal Preet Singh Sahota's as DGP. Both Deol and Sahota are considered Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi's choices.
Last month, Sidhu had said that the Congress would have "no face" if the AG and DGP were not removed.
Deol had represented former Punjab DGP Sumedh Singh Saini in cases related to the 2015 sacrilege incidents and police firing on protesters, while Sahota was the head of the special investigation team formed by the previous SAD-BJP government to probe the sacrilege incidents.
Deol had replaced Atul Nanda, who had stepped down in September following the resignation of Amarinder Singh as Punjab chief minister.
Early this week, there were reports that Deol had offered to resign as AG. However, the senior advocate refuted the reports.
(With inputs from PTI)
