AAP MLA HS Phoolka came under attack from journalists and social media users on Sunday after he reportedly accused the Indian army chief General Bipin Rawat of orchestrating the deadly blasts at Nirankari Bhawan in Amritsar that killed at least three people. Speaking to reporters, Phoolka said that the ‘army chief came and made a statement’ adding that ‘to prove his statement, he could have orchestrated the attack.’
He added, “This matter should be looked into. Did govt do it? Did the earlier government do it now? It is wrong to repeatedly say that Punjab’s atmosphere is not good. We must get to the root of it.”
On 3 November, Indian army chief General Bipin Rawat had accused foreign forces of reviving militancy in Punjab. He had said, “See we have a neighbouring country which always tries to vitiate atmosphere here. Our country is progressing which is not liked by them.”Phoolka was asked to comment on General Rawat’s statement. To which, he reportedly said that the Indian army chief may have orchestrated the Sunday’s attack to prove his apprehensions right.
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Like in last year’s Maur https://t.co/ec0qaVYRj2 one should reach a conclusion without detailed impartial investigation.Even a moderate person like me who has always been against Khalistan-think so.
I regret statement that may have purported to be against the Army Chief.— H S Phoolka (@hsphoolka) November 18, 2018
Reacting to the news, psephologist Yashwant Deshmukh said that Phoolka’s statement was shameful. He wrote, “I don’t believe this. Never expected any sitting MLA in Punjab Assembly would say this sort of stuff. Certainly not someone as respected as @hsphoolka. Absolutely shameful. His stature just went down the hill among most of his reasonable supporters.”
