Navjot Sidhu has been targeting APS deol over 2015 sacrilege case. (File)
Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu has launched a fresh round of attacks on the state government's top lawyer, accusing him of 'subverting justice by inaction' in the sacrilege and drugs cases. In a series of tweets, he pointed out that the Advocate General APS Deol had appeared for the accused in the sacrilege cases and is now representing the State. "...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 said.
Navjot Sidhu slammed Mr Deol for making serious allegations against the state government while he was appearing for the accused in the sacrilege cases. "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?" he said.
Mr Deol's appointment had triggered a debate within the party as he had represented former top cop Sumedh Singh Saini and Inspector General Paramraj Singh Umaranangal in relation to cases regarding incidents of sacrilege and subsequent police firing in Kotkapura and Behbal Kalan in 2015.
Navjot Sidhu has been demanding that the Advocate General be removed, along with Iqbal Singh Sahota, the Director-General of Police (DGP) of Punjab. Mr Deol had handed over his resignation letter to the state Chief Minister on November 1 following attacks from Mr Sidhu, but in a firm message to the state party chief who has been taking swipes at the state government, Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi refused to accept his resignation.
A senior advocate of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Mr Deol was appointed to the post in September after Atul Nanda resigned as the Advocate-General following the unceremonious exit of Amarinder Singh as the Punjab Chief Minister.
Mr Sidhu on November 5 took back his resignation as Punjab Congress chief but had served a new ultimatum to his party. He said he will return to his office "when a new Advocate General is appointed".
Mr Deol had hit out at the state party chief and accused him of politicising the constitutional office of the Advocate General of Punjab and obstructing the functioning of the state government. He said that Mr Sidhu has been making "repeated utterances (that) seek to derail the earnest efforts of the state to ensure justice in the drugs matter and the sacrilege cases".
The sacrilege cases are politically sensitive, and action on them was one of Congress's pre-poll promises declared in their election manifesto. Former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh was also criticised for allegedly stalling the case, a charge he denies. He then had to step down as Chief Minister following a rebellion from party MLAs regarding this, among other issues.