Punjab Congress president and MP Amarinder Singh Raja Warring said on Tuesday that the party would move the High Court if no action was taken over the alleged police assault on sanitation workers in Barnala.
Warring said the party had approached the National Commission and submitted Medico-Legal Case (MLC) reports, photographs and videos showing the injuries allegedly suffered by the workers.
"We met the National Commission, and they assured us that a notice would be issued and strict action would be taken. We have the MLC reports and have submitted several photographs showing the injuries suffered by the sanitation workers. We also provided the photographs and videos. We are confident that the Chairman will take action. We will definitely approach the High Court. If nothing happens, we will go to court," Warring said.
Meanwhile, Congress MP Amar Singh said the party had approached the authorities over the alleged lathi-charge on sanitation workers in Barnala. He also demanded a probe into the incident.
Amar Singh said, "We have come to lodge a complaint about the lathi-charge on sanitation workers in Barnala and demand that an inquiry commission be sent. We want an FIR to be registered and action taken against the police personnel who allegedly assaulted the sanitation workers at the behest of the Chief Minister."
Congress MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla said the party had also approached the National Commission for Scheduled Castes over the reported assault on sanitation workers in Barnala. He demanded that an FIR be registered against those responsible.
Aujla said the party had handed over the MLC reports to the Commission and sought action against those accused of assaulting 15 sanitation workers, including elderly people and women.
"We met the National Commission for Scheduled Castes to raise the issue of alleged atrocities against sanitation workers in Barnala, Punjab. We submitted the MLC reports to the Commission members and requested that an FIR be registered against those who assaulted the 15 victims, including elderly people, mothers and women. The MLC reports confirm that an assault took place, and action must follow," Aujla said.
He also accused both the BJP and Aam Aadmi Party governments of using force against people and alleged that they were acting in an authoritarian manner.
"The situation is the same under both governments. The BJP uses the lathi, and the Aam Aadmi Party is doing the same. Both are behaving like dictators. We will continue to pursue the matter and will also approach the High Court," Aujla added.
Earlier, on July 27, the Punjab government announced an increase in the monthly salaries of contractual sanitation workers to Rs 20,500 following protests in Barnala. State Minister Harjot Singh Bains made the announcement on Monday.
Addressing reporters in Chandigarh, Bains said the sanitation workers had called off their strike in Barnala following the government's decision.
He said, "This decision has been taken in the interest of our sanitation workers. The salary of contract workers, which was earlier Rs 10,500, has now been doubled to Rs 20,500. Work is also underway to address other welfare-related concerns of the workers."
Responding to questions about the police action against the protesting sanitation workers, Bains said Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Satbir Singh Bains had been suspended and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) had been formed to investigate the incident.
"The DSP has been suspended, and an SIT comprising police officers and senior civil officials has been formed. The team will record statements of all the victims, examine available video footage, look into eyewitness accounts and take action based on the findings. The sanitation workers' union has called off the strike," he said.
Bains had made the announcement during a press conference in Chandigarh. He said the government had first increased the monthly salary from Rs 10,500 to Rs 14,000 and had now approved a further hike to Rs 20,500.
The sanitation workers had gone on strike in Barnala demanding higher wages and regularisation of their jobs.
The alleged police action against the protesting workers triggered widespread criticism in the state. The government subsequently suspended the DSP and ordered an SIT probe into the incident. The development comes ahead of the state Assembly elections scheduled for next year.
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