Amarinder demands high-level probe against Bhattal

Phagwara, Apr 19 (UNI) Former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh today demanded a high-level probe into PPCC Chief Rajinder Kaur Bhattal's alleged links with a terrorist outfit.

While reacting to the claims of Sandeep Kaur, a former militant and wife of BKI terrorist Dharam Singh Kashtiwal in a recently released book that Ms Bhattal had provided shelter to hardcore terrorists, Mr Singh said in view of the serious nature of the accusation, high-level investigations should be made into the matter.

Talking to newspersons here today during a stop-over on way from Patiala to Amritsar, Capt Singh alleged that Ms Bhattal was playing ''friendly match with Akalis only to get the corruption case registered against her withdrawn, while more than 6500 Congressmen of the state were still facing false cases registered at the behest of the Akalis.'' He also alleged that Ms Bhattal never spared a thought for the interests of Congressmen.

When asked about his differences with Ms Bhattal, he stressed that he was working ''only for the party's interests as only a strengthened Congress could defeat the SAD-BJP alliance in the coming Lok Sabha elections.'' Replying to a question, the former Chief Minister denied any link with BJP or BSP saying he had never met Ms Mayawati and had met BJP Leader L K Advani only when he was the Deputy Prime Minister.

He described the Badal government as ''total failure'' and alleged that SAD-BJP Government was working without any solid agenda.

He said during his tenure he had succeeded to get huge fund from the World Bank for many projects which ''now the Badal Government was misusing for other purposes''.

When asked about the defeat of the Congress in last assembly elections, Capt Singh said an enquiry should be conducted to find out the reasons of the defeat of the party in 'Doaba' area.

Commenting on his relation with Pakistani Journalist Arusa, Capt Singh said she was ''just a friend like many more in several places''.

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