Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab Media In-charge Baltej Pannu on Monday said he would not stoop to the level of Akali Dal (Badal) leader Virsa Singh Valtoha by using derogatory language, but had answers to every question and allegation raised against him. He said his upbringing by his parents and teachers had taught him to maintain dignity in his language, irrespective of who he was responding to.
Reacting to Virsa Singh Valtoha’s remarks against him, AAP Punjab Media In-charge Baltej Pannu said, “Everyone knows that the Akali government had registered a false case against me in 2015. I fought that case in court for nearly four-and-a-half years and was honourably acquitted. If Virsa Singh Valtoha does not improve his language, I will reveal, word by word, who was behind that case and what they did at that time. I have personally gone through all of it and have every detail at my fingertips.”
The AAP Punjab Media In-charge said Virsa Singh Valtoha should also explain the allegations surrounding the Bahrain woman instead of attacking her character. “We have repeatedly seen the kind of language Virsa Singh Valtoha uses. His remarks against a woman and the continued character assassination of her are deeply objectionable. If Virsa Singh Valtoha knew all these details about her, then why was she brought to Punjab and kept in a Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) sarai for months? Why was she allegedly provided an SGPC vehicle and two sevadars, and why was money transferred to her account? These are the questions that need answers,” he said.
Baltej Pannu also questioned Virsa Singh Valtoha’s claim that an audio released by him was AI-generated. “If you believe it is AI-generated, take legal action and let a forensic examination establish the truth. But tomorrow, do not start claiming that the Bahrain woman, the FIR, the sarai room, the vehicle, the sevadars and the SGPC records were also created by AI,” he said.
He said Virsa Singh Valtoha’s own statements showed that he had been in contact with the woman. He said this raised serious questions about how and why the woman came into contact with Virsa Singh Valtoha and others and what purpose she was brought to Punjab for.
The AAP Punjab Media In-charge called out Virsa Singh Valtoha who was also making personal remarks about him because he was uncomfortable answering questions. “I have always maintained the dignity of my language because that is the education I received from my parents, teachers and Guru Nanak Sahib’s teachings. I will listen to the other side and respond, but I will not abandon that dignity,” he said.
Taking strong exception to Virsa Singh Valtoha’s repeated remarks about the woman, Baltej Pannu said facing a case did not give anyone the right to assassinate her character. “A woman having faced a case does not give anyone the right to assassinate her character. If you knew everything about her, the question is why you brought her here and why she was kept in an SGPC sarai for so long,” he said.
Baltej Pannu also questioned the silence of the senior Akali leadership and SGPC leadership on the matter. He said Sukhbir Singh Badal, whom he described as the “chief custodian” of the Akali Dal, should answer the questions instead of others repeatedly speaking on his behalf.
Baltej Pannu also asked SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami to clarify the SGPC’s decisions and records concerning the woman.
Baltej Pannu said he had deliberately refrained from responding to every personal remark made by Virsa Singh Valtoha, but if necessary, he would hold another press conference and place before the public details of what happened, who was involved and what actions were taken at the time.
Referring to Rup Kaur Sandhu, Baltej Pannu said Virsa Singh Valtoha should also answer the questions raised by the young woman instead of remaining silent.
Baltej Pannu added that Virsa Singh Valtoha’s repeated use of abusive and derogatory language suggested that he needed to “control his tongue” and seek treatment for the “illness” he repeatedly displays through his language.
