Chandigarh (Punjab) [India], October 3 : Senior leader and spokesperson for the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) Daljit Singh Cheema on Thursday said that the Supreme Court should directly take action against officials who neglect instructions regarding air quality management.
Cheema was reacting on the apex court's recent directive to the Punjab and Haryana governments asked both states to file an affidavit within seven days, citing their failure to follow the Commission of Air Quality Monitoring's instructions.
Cheema said, "Today, the Supreme Court has asked Punjab and Haryana to file an affidavit within seven days for not following the instructions of the Commission of Air Quality Monitoring." He emphasised that the Supreme Court should directly take action against the officers who neglect these instructions.
Criticising the Punjab government, Cheema said, "The Punjab government can spend crores of rupees for election campaigning and can also spend crores of rupees on advertisements for its publicity, but when it comes to the environment, the Chief Minister is not ready to do anything." He then accused the government of failing to provide affordable and effective machines for stubble management to farmers.
In connection with the recent row over the remarks about Punjab by Kangana Ranaut, the newly elected Member of Parliament from Mandi, Himachal Pradesh which triggered a row, Cheema suggested that she may not be speaking independently.
"Kangana Ranaut says anything and looking at her last few statements, it seems that Kangana is not giving such statements on her own but she is being made to give such statements. If this is not the case, then why does BJP not take action against its newly elected MP?" he said.
"What is Punjab for the one who can say anything about the great leaders of the country?" he further said.
Ranaut had suggested that the three farm laws, which were repealed after prolonged farmer protests, should be reinstated. However, she later issued an apology. She said, "I know this statement could be controversial, but the three farm laws should be brought back. Farmers themselves should demand it."
After backlash, she clarified her position, stating, "I regret it and take my words back," and acknowledged that her views would align with the BJP's stance going forward. BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia reinforced this, saying her remarks were "not authorised" and did not reflect the party's view on farm bills.