Chandigarh: The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) on Monday sought the arrest of Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Raja Warring within five days for allegedly making casteist remarks against former Union Home Minister late Buta Singh at an election rally in 2025.
Punjab Police in November had registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Warring under relevant Sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) of 2023, along with Sections 3 (1)(u) and 3 (1)(v) of the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act of 1989.
The case was filed against the MP from Ludhiana based on a complaint by Buta Singh’s son, Sarabjot Singh Sidhu.
The NCSC, chaired by Kishor Makwana, expressed concern over the delay in investigation and arrest despite specific recommendations issued during a previous hearing on May 5. It also observed that the Action Taken Report sought earlier had not been submitted.
“In case any willful neglect of duty is found on the part of the Investigating Officer (s), appropriate departmental action, including consideration under Section 4 of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, may be initiated,” it observed.
It sought an Action Taken Report within 30 days.
Regarding the petitioner’s safety, the NCSC recommended immediate and adequate police protection to the petitioner and his dependents, both in Delhi and Punjab, under Section 15-A of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
The Congress chief had allegedly remarked on the late politician’s skin colour while campaigning in support of the party’s candidate for the Tarn Taran Assembly bypoll, slated on November 11, 2025.
The NCSC had taken suo motu cognisance of a news report based on BJP leader Tarun Chugh’s statement on the incident.
Also, the Punjab State Scheduled Castes Commission had taken suo motu notice of the matter and issued summons to him.
Facing criticism, Warring had clarified that late Buta Singh was like a father figure, and he could “never mean any disrespect to him or to anyone else”.
(IANS)
