The Punjab State Commission for Scheduled Castes (PSSCC) has taken a firm stance, directing the immediate arrest of Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring. This directive comes in connection with alleged casteist remarks made about the late Union minister, Buta Singh.
Commission Grills Police Over Inaction
During a hearing at its Chandigarh office, the Commission summoned Kapurthala DSP Hargurdev Singh to provide an explanation for the lack of progress in the case. PSSCC chairman, Jasvir Singh Garhi, expressed strong disapproval of the slow investigation. He pointedly asked the DSP why Warring had not been apprehended despite his frequent appearances at public functions.
Garhi emphatically stated that Warring is not some elusive Robin Hood who cannot be found. He referenced specific media footage showing the Congress leader attending events in Tarn Taran and Nawanshahr, questioning the police's inability to trace or arrest him despite this public visibility.
Timeline of the Case and Police Response
The DSP informed the commission that an FIR was officially registered on November 4 at the Cyber Crime police station in Kapurthala. This action followed a formal complaint from the family members of the late Buta Singh.
Investigators have since recorded the statement of the complainant and obtained his caste certificate. The DSP also revealed that the video evidence provided by the complainant has been sent for a forensic examination. He estimated that this technical process would require an additional seven to ten days to complete.
Strict Deadlines and National Scrutiny
Displeased with the explanations, Chairman Garhi deemed such delays unacceptable. He instructed the DSP to treat the matter with utmost urgency and ensure conclusive action is taken by the November 20 deadline set by the Commission. The police have also been ordered to submit weekly progress reports on the investigation.
The controversy erupted when videos of Warring's speech, where he reportedly referred to Buta Singh's Mazhabi Sikh community and his complexion, went viral online. The backlash was swift.
Adding to the pressure on local authorities, the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) has also taken suo motu cognisance of the incident. The national body has demanded an action taken report from the authorities in Tarn Taran within a strict seven-day window.
The complaint against Warring was filed by Sarabjot Singh, Buta Singh's son. It invokes relevant sections of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act as well as provisions under the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
