Amritsar blast: AAP MLA Phoolka apologises to Army chief

Aam Aadmi Party’s Punjab MLA HS Phoolka on Sunday accused Army Chief Bipin Rawat of orchestrating the attack in Amritsar that claimed three innocents. However, taking a complete U-turn on his accusations, Phoolka said that his statement had been misunderstood.

“My statement has been totally misunderstood. Please see the full video. The whole statement was actually against the Congress, and not against the respected Army Chief. Still, it was an inadvertent comment and I regret it,” Phoolka clarified.

Please see whole https://t.co/LTVCup8BTQ inadvertent statement made standing on road is being blown out of proportion.I have stated that history is evidence of that fact that governments in the past have caused violence to further their interest…1/2https://t.co/tU8xGYVvFZ

— H S Phoolka (@hsphoolka) November 18, 2018

Sthttps://twitter.com/hsphoolka/status/1064229683850469376

Meanwhile, AAP leader Sanjay Singh said the AAP MLA has regretted his statement and he should not be defamed on the basis of an impromptu comment. “He has been fighting for justice for 1984 riots victims for the last 35 years, he should be given credit for it. He should not be targeted in this manner,” Sanjay Singh added.

Earlier on Sunday, Phoolka had said, “Army Chief came and made a statement. To prove his statement, he could have orchestrated the attack. This matter should be looked into. Did government do it (attack)? 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. Government must get to the root of it. Those who made false statements about Maur blast, what action has been taken against them? Punjab is a sensitive state. One must not make statements without facts. One must not make accusations. Get to the root of it – who did it? ” he asked.

It is to be noted that at least three people including a preacher were killed and over 20 injured after two-motorcycle borne men threw grenade on a religious congregation on the city outskirts in Amritsar.

The incident occurred inside the Nirankari Bhavan’s prayer hall at Adliwal village near Amritsar’s Rajasansi. Chief Minister Amarinder Singh condemned the attack and said the possibility of the involvement of ISI-based Khalistani/Kashmiri terror groups could not be ruled out. He also announced a reward of Rs 50 lakh for anybody providing information on those involved in a grenade attack.

Also Read: Amritsar blast: CM Amarinder Singh announce Rs 50 lakh reward for information on suspects