Chandigarh-Punjab Congress president Pargat Singh has strongly condemned the registration of an FIR against Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira, arguing that questions concerning the alleged misuse or unauthorised occupation of government property should not be used to silence the Opposition.
In a statement posted on social media, Pargat Singh said that questioning the use of public property is part of the Opposition’s responsibility and should be addressed through transparency and due process rather than police action. He also referred to the Supreme Court’s observations concerning FIRs and their status as public documents, subject to applicable legal safeguards.
Pargat Singh further alleged that some Aam Aadmi Party leaders from outside Punjab were occupying government residences in violation of applicable rules. He called upon the Punjab Director General of Police to investigate such alleged unauthorised occupations and register cases wherever violations are established.
The Congress leader said the issue should be examined based on records, rules and evidence rather than political considerations. His remarks come amid a wider political dispute over the use and occupation of government properties and the role of political functionaries in accessing public resources.
Pargat Singh also said that police cases should not become a means of discouraging Congress leaders from raising questions about public accountability. He maintained that the Congress party would stand with Sukhpal Singh Khaira in the matter.
The allegations regarding unauthorised occupation of government residences are political claims at this stage and would require verification from official records and the relevant authorities. Any investigation would need to establish who occupied particular properties, under what authority, for what period and whether the occupation complied with government rules.
The controversy therefore raises a broader question about accountability in the allocation and use of government accommodation. If violations are established, appropriate action would be expected regardless of the political affiliation of the individuals involved. At the same time, allegations should be distinguished from proven violations, with due process applying to all concerned.
Pargat Singh’s intervention places the issue within the larger Congress-AAP political confrontation in Punjab, with the Congress leadership arguing that Opposition scrutiny of public property and government expenditure is a legitimate part of democratic accountability.