Balkar Singh Obscene Video: Punjab Local Body Minister Says “Not In My Knowledge”
Days before the Lok Sabha elections in India’s North-Western state of Punjab, an obscene video has surfaced purportedly of a minister from the AAP government in the state. All through the day on Monday, BJP leaders, from state to the national level, shared the video and images from the obscene video claiming the minister for local body government in Punjab Balkar Singh masturbated in an online video call with a girl job aspirant after forcing her to strip naked and engage in inappropriate activities. However, the minister Balkar Singh, who is a first-time MLA from Kartarpur assembly constituency, responded to queries from reporters in Jalandhar where he campaigning for the AAP candidate. When asked about the obscene video, Balkar Singh said that he has no comments on it and the issue has not come in his knowledge.
After a BJP youth leader released the obscene video online, Congress — AAP’s national level alliance partner and foe in Punjab –, SAD and BJP has upped the ante and called for action against the minister.
Taking cognizant of the matter, the National Commission for Women (NCW) has sent a notice to the Director General of Police, Punjab and asked for prompt and impartial investigation into the matter. In the notice sent to DGP Gaurav Yadav IPS, the NCW has also asked for a comprehensive report to be submitted in three days to the Commission.
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The Commission has also noted that it is gravely disturbed by the allegations against Balkar Singh, and the reported acts constitute serious violations under IPC sections 354 and 354B, directly affronting a woman”s dignity, if substantiated.
“…Punjab”s Cabinet Minister Balkar Singh allegedly masturbating on a video call with a 21 year old girl compelling her to strip naked on the pretext to provide her with a job…. The reported incident is outrageous to the dignity of a woman and the Commission strongly condemns the unwarranted and lascivious behavior of Mr. Balkar Singh. Therefore, you are required to personally intervene and ensure fair and swift investigation in the matter. The aforesaid provisions of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 must be incorporated in the F.I.R along-with other relevant provisions of law. if the allegations levelled are found to be true. The accused person should be arrested at the earliest and the detailed action taken report along- with a copy of the F.I.R should be communicated to the Commission within 3 days,” the Commission said in the letter.
“… I have no comments and not in my knowledge…,” this was response of the minister Balkar Singh when asked about the obscene video, of which the time is still unknown when the purported activity took place.
However, in January this year, SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia had met the Governor of Punjab in regard to a particular video concerning minister Balkar Singh. Then, Mr Majithia had claimed that he had sent a request to state chief minister Bhagwant Mann informing him that he had got a video – a very grave misconduct, a very objectionable video – of minister Balkar Singh.
“My intention was very clear that I don”t want to embarrass the minister or his family. I wanted the chief minister to know the truth and take action against this minister. There must be some issues that the chief minister did not want to take that video from me. Eventually, when I saw all doors closing, I had no option (but to meet the Governor),” the Shiromani Akali Dal leader said, as per a video posted by news agency Press Trust of India.
According to some accounts, Balkar Singh had met the victim as she came to visit the minister for a job.
After the video went viral, BJP National secretary Manjinder Singh Sirsa said: “Another vulgar action of AAP minister exposed in public! Earlier it was Kataruchakk and now Balkar Singh, AAP MLA whose video of masturbating with a 21-year girl shames every Punjabi. It’s totally unacceptable that the land of Gurus and Pirs is run by people who have no character or integrity. I urge Hon’ble Governor, Punjab to immediately dismiss minister Balkar Singh.”
Congress’ Jalandhar candidate and former Punjab chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi: “… I want to ask him, why is he trying to defame all of Punjab? This is not our civilisation… AAP has purposely chosen such kind of people to be in power…”.
