Scuffle between Mann, ex-MLA
Shariq Majeed
Tribune News Service

Barnala, January 20
Congress leaders today clashed with SAD (Amritsar) president Simranjit Singh Mann after he made “derogatory remarks” against former CM Capt Amarinder Singh at a stage set to pay homage to Sewa Singh Thikriwala on his 76th death anniversary at his native place.

Mann, in his address, made a direct reference to the alleged affair between Amarinder and Pakistani journalist Aroosa Aalam, which infuriated a Congress leader present on the stage who then clashed with Mann.

Eyewitnesses said irked over this, former Congress MLA Arvind Khanna, party leader Surinder Kaur Balian, MLAs Harchand Kaur and Kewal Singh Dhillon asked him to keep quiet. However, when Mann didn’t pay heed to the warnings of Congress men present at the stage, Khanna went to him and tried to stop him from speaking, which resulted in scuffle between the two leaders.

Eyewitnesses further said while the two leaders were trying to push each other, Mann allegedly raised slogans in favour of “Khalistan”. Levelling allegations against Mann, Khanna said Mann had “amassed” funds to promote the movement of “Khalistan” to disturb peace in Punjab.

The police took Mann into custody, but was later let off.

SSP, Barnala, Harcharan Singh Bhullar said a DDR had been registered at Barnala police station.