Chandigarh, Dec 26 (UNI) Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today condemned Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh for appointing Brig (retd) J S Jaswal, against whom a war widow has lodged a complaint of sexual harassment with the National Commission for Women, as Director, Sainik welfare.

''The government which cannot protect the dignity and honour of war widows has no right to remain in power,'' SAD spokesman Dr G S Cheema said in a statement here.

The SAD spokesman demanded a high level probe into the matter, pointing out that Brig (retd) Jaswal had been hand-picked by Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh as the Director of the Sainik Welfare Board.

''It was shameful that a war widow of Punjab faced sexual harassment at the hands of the Director, who was supposed to protect the rights of the martyrs' families, he said.

Condemning Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, Dr Cheema said if the chief minister had taken action against the erring cops for the molestation of girl students during a demonstration in Ludhiana, that could become a warning for such elements like Brig (retd) Jaswal who dared to harass women in government offices.

UNI PS VD DS1437