City
Epaper

Amritsar rail tragedy returns to haunt Sidhu's wife

By IANS | Updated: December 30, 2019 17:50 IST

In a fresh trouble for former Punjab Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu's wife Navjot Kaur Sidhu, a non-profit organisation has termed the 2018 Amritsar rail tragedy a major blunder in which 60 people were killed and scores injured.

Open in App

The train had mowed down a crowd in Joda Phatak, Amritsar, on October 19, 2018, that had gathered on the railway track to watch Dussehra celebrations, where she was the 'guest of honour'.

The probe report, made public by the Punjab Human Rights Organisation (PHRO) on Saturday, has also raised questions over the loco pilot's role.

Endorsing the report on Monday, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa said: "It stated that no permission was taken as Sidhu's close aide Saurabh Madan Mithoo was the organiser. It was an accident of multiple errors."

Sirsa also blamed the Punjab Police and termed it a major "goof-up" on the part of the police and the municipality for letting crowd gather on a railway track, and also granting permission to organise an event there.

The SAD leader also accused Sidhu's wife of using her "VIP influence".

"The report has stated how the VIP influence (Navjot Kaur Sidhu's name) was used for the permission and the authorities, like the police and the municipal corporation, didn't pay any heed because of the VIP guest," he said.

Though the incident had Sidhu's wife under the scanner, she was given a clean chit last year by a magisterial probe, ordered by the Congress-led government.

The probe, conducted by Jalandhar Divisional Commissioner B. Purushartha, had indicted Saurabh Madan Mithoo, son of a Congress councillor in Amritsar and a close political aide of the Sidhu couple, and officials of the Amritsar Municipal Corporation, local administration, the police and railway authorities for the tragedy.

( With inputs from IANS )

Tags: Navjot Kaur SidhuamritsarPunjab Policecongress
Open in App

Related Stories

NationalPahalgam Terror Attack: Rahul Gandhi to Visit Srinagar on April 25

NationalCongress Committe Meets To Discuss Pahalgam Terror Attack Ahead of All-Party Meeting

NationalPahalgam Terror Attack: Rahul Gandhi Cuts Short US Visit, To Attend CWC Meeting in New Delhi

Navi MumbaiNavi Mumbai: Eknath Shinde’s Strategy to Give Strength to BJP; 12 Former Corporators Likely To Join Shiv Sena

NationalRahul Gandhi Urges States to Enact Rohith Vemula Act to End Caste Discrimination in Education

National Realted Stories

NationalBihar Cabinet approves 34 proposals for state’s development

NationalPahalgam Terror Attack: Asaduddin Owaisi Wears and Distributes Black Bands in Hyderabad as Protest Before Friday Prayers (Watch Video)

NationalWBSSC recruitment case: Job losers shift spot of agitation, announces future course of protests

NationalKarnataka police file FIR over social media post defending Pahalgam terror attack; hunt on for accused

NationalSP's Abu Azmi backs PM Modi's call for retaliation after Pahalgam terror attack